Watch out for gum disease

Gum disease is an often overlooked aspect of dental health, even though it is the most prevalent dental disease and is the most universal cause of bad breath and tooth loss.

Recent medical studies have identified gum disease as contributing to chronic systemic inflammation, which is implicated in cardiovascular disease, premature births, diabetes, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease.

Maintaining gum health is an important factor in contributing to your overall well-being, and treatment of active gum disease has been proven to have positive effects on cardiovascular disease, including significant reduction in arterial plaque formation.

Our dedicated hygiene protocols are not only aimed at eliminating gum disease, but also in educating our patients on home-care maintenance and establishing regular gum health reviews as part of our preventive dental program to ensure that you keep your teeth, gums and body, healthy for life.

As much as 90% of the population has some form of gum disease. Gingivitis is the mildest form of gum disease and is caused by inadequate brushing and flossing of your teeth, which then leads to plaque build-up. The bacteria in plaque are a major irritation to the gums and cause oral infection. This can easily progress to a more destructive form of gum disease called Periodontitis. Periodontitis not only affects the superficial gums, but causes the bone that supports the teeth to recede or dissolve away, leading to eventual tooth loss. People with gum disease usually have very little oral discomfort therefore, it is of prime importance to implement an effective hygiene regimen including home-maintenance and regular, professional cleans and in advanced cases, antibiotic therapy.

There are warning signs for gums which you should look out for. These include:
Swollen, sore gums which are red in colour
Bleeding while brushing or flossing
Gums that have separated from the teeth
Loose teeth
Chronic bad breath

Prevention and treatment of gum disease is one of the reasons it is so important to keep up to date with your regular appointments for dental examinations and hygiene treatment. If you haven’t seen us for a while or are suffering from any of the symptoms above, give us a call to arrange an appointment