Gum Disease
Gum disease or periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition causing swelling, infection or pain in the gums. Gum disease is caused by plaque. Plaque builds up daily from bacteria and food particles in our mouth and must be removed by daily brushing and flossing. Gum disease can have a detrimental effect on health. There are proven associations between gum disease and type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease for example.
Gingivitis
Inflammation of the gum. Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort at this stage. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care. Factors that may contribute to gingivitis include diabetes, smoking, aging, genetic predisposition, systemic diseases, stress, inadequate nutrition, puberty, hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, substance abuse, HIV infection, and certain medication use.
Gingivitis
Inflammation of the gum. Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort at this stage. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care. Factors that may contribute to gingivitis include diabetes, smoking, aging, genetic predisposition, systemic diseases, stress, inadequate nutrition, puberty, hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, substance abuse, HIV infection, and certain medication use.
Periodontitis
Inflammation affecting the bone and tissues of the teeth. Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself, and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have
to be removed.
Gum Disease Symptoms
Gum disease is often silent, meaning symptoms may not appear until an advanced stage of the disease. However, warning signs of gum disease include the following:
- Red, swollen or tender gums or other pain in your mouth
- Bleeding while brushing, flossing, or eating hard food
- Gums that are receding or pulling away from the teeth, causing the teeth to look longer than before
- Loose or separating teeth
- Pus between your gums and teeth
- Sores in your mouth
- Persistent bad breath
- A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
- A change in the fit of partial dentures
Gum Disease Symptoms
Gum disease is often silent, meaning symptoms may not appear until an advanced stage of the disease. However, warning signs of gum disease include the following:
- Red, swollen or tender gums or other pain in your mouth
- Bleeding while brushing, flossing, or eating hard food
- Gums that are receding or pulling away from the teeth, causing the teeth to look longer than before
- Loose or separating teeth
- Pus between your gums and teeth
- Sores in your mouth
- Persistent bad breath
- A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
- A change in the fit of partial dentures
Treatments
The main goal of treatment is to control the infection. The number and types of treatment will vary, depending on the extent of the gum disease. Any type of treatment requires that the patient keep up good daily care at home. The chances of suffering from gum disease are greatly reduced by regular visits to the dentist for professional dental cleaning to thoroughly remove all plaque and tartar deposits. Some cases of gum disease may require cleaning under local anaesthetic, and some severe cases may need a referral to a specialist periodontist. Each individual case will be assessed and treated accordingly by our dentist.
Professional dental cleaning (Scale & Polish): This is where your dentist or dental hygienist will remove the plaque and tartar (plaque that builds up and hardens on the tooth surface and can only be removed with professional cleaning) from above and below the gum line of all teeth. If you have some signs of gum disease, your dentist may recommend professional dental cleaning more than twice a year.
Scaling and Root Planing (Periodontal Deep Cleaning): This is a deep-cleaning, nonsurgical procedure, done under a local anesthetic, whereby plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line are scraped away (scaling) and rough spots on the tooth root are made smooth (planing). Smoothing the rough spots removes bacteria and provides a clean surface for the gums to reattach to the teeth.
Our team are committed to continual professional development and learning to ensure that our patients receive the best possible dental care.
Belvedere Court,
Belvedere Lawn,
Douglas Rd,
Douglas,
Cork, T12 WV9H
tel: (021) 429 5556
email: info@belvederedentalcare.ie