Take care of your gums with Advance Dental Clinic

There are two main types of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis.  With gingivitis, a build-up of plaque (such as food and bacteria) occurs in your gums, and, if your teeth aren’t cleaned regularly, your gums will become irritated – turning red and shiny, and you might also notice bleeding when you brush.

However, gingivitis can be reversed.  If the plaque is removed then the gums will recover. But if the plaque remains on the teeth then the gingivitis will worsen and may develop into periodontitis.  Resulting in the gums receding from the teeth, this creates a small pocket around the tooth which then traps plaque that cannot be reached by a toothbrush.  Over time the plaque will begin to harden and turn into tartar (calculus), and the combined build up of plaque and tartar will eventually cause further irritation – leading to the shrinkage of both bone and gum, known as periodontitis.  By the degradation of the gum, some roots of your teeth may be left exposed, leaving them wobbly and sensitive. And if left untreated, your teeth will come loose and fall out.

Whilst gingivitis is reversible, periodontitis is not.  Yet if treatment is administered straight away and is teamed with regular brushing and flossing, the disease can be prevented.

Symptoms to look out for include red and swollen gums and bleeding from the gums when brushing your teeth.  If gingivitis has progressed into periodontitis, then your teeth may become wobbly and you may get gum abscesses – but should you suffer from any of these symptoms then see your dentist immediately.

Usual forms of treatment include scaling, where your dentist will carry out a thorough clean of your teeth using gritty toothpaste and special toothbrushes. If the disease is in quite a severe stage, then gum surgery may be the only option – but is relatively pain-free and effective.