A Gum
disease describes swelling, soreness or infection of
the tissues supporting the teeth. There are two
main forms of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontal
disease.
Q What is gingivitis?
A Gingivitis
means inflammation of the gums. This is when
the gums around the teeth become very red and swollen. Often
the swollen gums bleed when they are brushed during
cleaning.
Q What is periodontal
disease?
A Long-standing
gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease. There
are a number of types of periodontal disease and they
all affect the tissues supporting the teeth. As
the disease gets worse the bone anchoring the teeth
in the jaw is lost, making the teeth loose. If
this is not treated, the teeth may eventually fall
out.
Q Am I likely to
suffer from gum disease?
A Probably. Most
people suffer from some form of gum disease, and it
is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. However,
the disease develops very slowly in most people, and
it can be slowed down to a rate that should allow you
to keep most of your teeth for life.
Q What is the cause
of gum disease?
A All
gum disease is caused by plaque. Plaque is a
film of bacteria, which forms on the surface of the
teeth and gums every day. Many of the bacteria
in plaque are completely harmless, but there are some
that have been shown to be the main cause of gum disease. To
prevent and treat gum disease, you need to make sure
you remove all the plaque from your teeth every day. This
is done by brushing and flossing.
Q What happens if
gum disease is not treated?
A Unfortunately,
gum disease progresses painlessly on the whole so that
you do notice the damage it is doing. However,
the bacteria are sometimes more active and this makes
your gums sore. This can lead to gum abscesses,
and pus may ooze from around the teeth. Over
a number of years, the bone supporting the teeth can
be lost. If the disease is left untreated for
a long time, treatment can become more difficult.
Q How do I know
if I have gum disease?
A The
first sign is blood on the toothbrush or in the rinsing
water when you clean your teeth. Your gums may
also bleed when you are eating, leaving a bad taste
in your mouth. Your breath may also become unpleasant.
Q What do I do if
I think I have gum disease?
A The
first thing to do is visit your dentist for a thorough
check-up of your teeth and gums. The dentist
can measure the ‘cuff’ of gum around each
tooth to see if there is any sign that periodontal
disease has started. X-rays may also be needed
to see the amount of bone that has been lost. This
assessment is very important, so the correct treatment
can be prescribed for you.
Q What treatments
are needed?
A Your dentist will
usually give your teeth a thorough clean. You’ll
also be shown how to remove plaque successfully yourself,
cleaning all surfaces of your teeth thoroughly and
effectively. This may take a number of sessions
with the dentist or hygienist.
Q What else may
be needed?
A Once your teeth
are clean, your dentist may decide to carry out further
cleaning of the roots of the teeth, to make sure that
the last
pockets of bacteria are removed.
You’ll probably
need the treatment area to be numbered before
anything is done. Afterwards, you may feel some
discomfort for up to 48 hour.
Q Once I have had
periodontal disease, can I get it again?
A Periodontal
disease is never cured. But as long as you keep
up the home care you have been taught, any further
loss of bone will be very slow and it may stop altogether. However,
you must make sure you remove plaque every day, and
go for regular check ups by the dentist and hygienist.
To download these
details in pdf form please click
here
