Gum Disease

Gum disease and Periodontitis

Gum disease and periodontal disease screenings are important standard procedures for every examination at Woods Dental.

What is gum disease?

Gum disease is a general term for swelling, soreness or infection in the tissues that hold your teeth in place. It comes in two main forms: gingivitis and periodontal disease.

What is gingivitis?

Gingivitis is simply inflammation of the gums. The gum tissue around your teeth turns red and puffy, and it’s not unusual for swollen gums to bleed when you brush. In fact, bleeding gums are often the first clue that something isn’t right.

What is periodontal disease?

Whenever gingivitis is not treated, the next stage that follows is periodontal disease which affects the tissues of your teeth and the supporting bone.

There are different types of periodontal disease, however they all have the same outcome. Periodontal disease causes the supporting bone to dissolve, and it leads to tooth loss. Advanced stages of this disease result in gums receding, where the gum line pulls back. Teeth begin to fall out if this disease process is left to advance.

What is the cause of gum disease and periodontitis?

Plaque is behind all forms of gum disease and periodontitis. It’s a sticky film of bacteria that builds up on your teeth and gums day after day. Most of these bacteria are harmless, but a few types are known to trigger gum disease. Keeping on top of it means removing that plaque every single day, through regular brushing and flossing.

What happens if gum disease is not treated?

The tricky part about gum disease is that it tends to progress quietly, without much pain, so it’s easy to miss. Every so often the bacteria become more active, which is when your gums are likely to feel sore. This can bring on gum abscesses, with pus sometimes oozing from around the teeth. Given enough years, the supporting bone is gradually lost, and the longer treatment is put off, the harder it becomes.

How do I know if I have gum disease?

One of the most common gum disease symptoms is bleeding gums you might spot blood on your toothbrush or when you rinse after cleaning. Gums can also bleed while you’re eating, sometimes leaving an unpleasant taste behind, and your breath may suffer too.

Treatment

This treatment may be carried out over one or more appointments. Dentists are becoming increasingly aware that gum disease is influenced by many factors and has links with a person’s medical health.

Primarily, treatment involves removing plaque that is on or below the gumline, which is the primary cause of the inflammation that leads to gum disease. Throughout the treatment, our dentists will take the time to explain to you what has caused the gum disease and how you can take steps to reduce its symptoms through home care.

Usually, once you have completed a course of periodontal treatment, your dentist may recommend regular hygienist appointments to help prevent the symptoms from returning. Your dentist will also ask you to return to them for regular examinations to ensure that your gums remain healthy in the future and provide further advice on how to care for your gums.

If you are concerned about the gum disease and periodontitis or need emergency dentist in Stevenage, please contact our reception team to book in an examination with your dentist.