Gum Disease

Gum disease describes swelling, soreness or infection of the tissues supporting the teeth. There are two main forms of gum disease: gingivitis and peridontitis.

Gingivitis means inflammation of the gums. This is when the gums around the teeth become red and swollen. Often the swollen gums bleed when they are brushed during cleaning.

Peridontitis is the result of long standing gingivitis. 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.

Most people suffer from a degree of gingivitis at one time or another but 10-15% of the general population are known to be more at risk of developing peridontitis. In fact, severe periodontal disease is the major cause of tooth loss in adults.

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.

Healthy tooth	Plaque build up
Plaque build-up	Decay. Infection and abscess
Abscess	Tooth mobility

Unfortunately, gum disease progresses painlessly on the whole so that you do not notice the damage it is doing. If left untreated for a long time, treatment to control the disease can become more difficult.

Routine check ups with your dentist allows him or her to monitor the condition of your gums as well as your teeth. The dentist can measure the 'cuff' of gum around each tooth to see if there is any sign that periodontal disease has started. He or she may also take x-rays to determine the amount of bone that has been lost.

Regular visits to a hygienist for a thorough cleaning of all the surfaces of your teeth, along with instruction on home care, also helps you to keep your teeth for life.

If your dentist feels that your gum condition would benefit from the attention of an expert in this field, he or she can refer you to the care of our specialist periodontists who see patients in our sister practice, Cedar Clinic.