Gum Disease - Periodontal Disease

Most people suffer from some form of gum disease. It is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. A recent survey has shown that over 40% of adults have serious gum problems as a result of poor oral hygiene and 8% adults are in danger of losing teeth due to the severity of disease. However gum disease develops very slowly in most people and it can be slowed down to the rate that should allow you to keep most of your teeth for life.

What is the cause of gum disease?

All gum disease begins with the deposition of plaque. Plaque is a film of bacteria which forms on the surface of the teeth everyday. Many of the bacteria in plaque are harmless, but there are some that are the main cause of gum disease. To prevent and treat gum disease, it is important to remove all plaque from the teeth every day. You can do this by brushing your teeth, and by cleaning in between them with inter-dental brushes and dental floss.
Some people are more prone to periodontal disease than others.

Smoking and drinking lot of alcohol makes gum disease worse. Both are linked with oral cancer.
Diabetes and other diseases are prone to cause more gum disease.
Crooked teeth are more difficult to keep clean and can lead to isolated incidence of gum disease in the mouth .
Changes in your hormone during pregnancy or when using oral contraceptives can affect gum health.

How do I know if I have gum disease?

Your gums may bleed when you are eating, leaving a bad taste in your mouth. Your breath may become unpleasant and you might notice blood on your toothbrush while cleaning.

What should I do if I think I have gum disease?

The first thing to do is to visit your dentist for a check-up of your teeth and gums. Dentist at Healthy Roots will 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.

What happens if gum disease is not treated ?

Dental Scaling and polishing, Teeth stains removal Gurgaon

Gum disease usually develops painlessly . So most people do not notice the damage it is doing. However, the bacteria are sometimes more active and this is what makes your gums sore leading to gum abscesses and pus oozing from around the teeth. If the disease is left untreated for a long time, treatment can become more difficult .Over the years ,the bone supporting the teeth can be lost ,causing tooth loss.

What treatments are needed?

Based on the assessment of your gums and teeth your dentist may need to clean your teeth thoroughly. 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 .This is known as 'root planing'. Existing gum disease can be treated if it is not too advanced. In the intermediate state the use of antibiotics (in the form of a gel)will help to reduce the bacteria causing the gum disease.
Periodontal disease can never be cured .But as long as you keep up the good oral hygiene ,any further bone loss will be very slow and it may stop altogether.
The dentist at Healthy Roots will have a personalized session with you where they will show you how to remove plaque successfully yourself, cleaning all the surfaces of your teeth thoroughly and effectively. This may take a few sessions with the dentist .