Gum treatment

What is gum disease?

Periodontal, or gum, diseases are serious infections that, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. Most adults show the early signs of gum disease but about 10% of the population will have advanced gum disease, threatening loss of teeth if it is not treated. The main cause of periodontal disease is bacterial plaque, but the health of your gums can also be affected by:

• Smoking
• Genetic susceptibility
• Puberty, pregnancy and the menopause in women
• Stress
• Medications
• Grinding of the teeth
• Diabetes
• Poor nutrition

What are the symptoms?

• Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
• Red, puffy, swollen or tender gums
• Gums that are prone to bleeding during brushing and flossing
• Receding gums which make the teeth appear longer
• Gaps appearing between the teeth
• Often there are no symptoms at all

What are the treatments?

The first thing is to identify the disease because in the early stages there are no symptoms at all. Your dentist should probe your gums to check for disease at every examination appointment.

• Early gum disease is treated by enhanced oral hygiene measures. Our hygienist will show you how to clean the infected plaque from your teeth and assist you with special techniques for tricky areas.
• More advanced gum disease will need additional measures – possibly deep root cleaning (under local anaesthesia) and sometimes chemical therapy.
• Aggressive or advanced gum disease will usually need a surgical approach. Our specialist periodontist is an expert in this form of treatment.