Gum Disease

Are you worried that gum disease spells the end for your teeth and that dentures are inevitable?

Maybe you are just concerned that you may have gum disease ( also called periodontal disease) and are looking for some more information.

At Craigentinny Dental Care we take gum disease seriously. Half of our clinical team are dedicated to treating and preventing this condition and have been successfully helping patients to beat their gum disease for more than 20 years.

So if you are suffering from this problem we have the knowledge, experience and skills to help you, why not book an appointment for an assessment with one of our dentists?

What Is Gum disease?

Gum disease is the progressive break down of the fibres and bone that support your teeth. In its most advanced form this involves the loss of so much bone that your teeth become loose. Left untreated this can lead to the need for the extraction of multiple teeth. Recent studies have suggested links between untreated gum disease and heart disease as well as other medical conditions so getting to grips with gum disease is an important part of general health too.

How Do I Know If I Have Gum Disease?

Bleeding gums when you brush or floss are the first sign that things are not right. Many people assume that bleeding gums mean that you have brushed too hard, this is simply not the case. Bleeding gums are the first sign of gum disease and is referred to as gingivitis, thankfully this is easily treated if caught early. Untreated gingivitis can progress on to more extensive gum disease and start to destroy the bone that holds your teeth in place. If you can see small areas of swollen gums or redness around the necks of teeth like this photograph then it is likely that you are suffering from gingivitis. Caught at this stage treatment is usually very effective.

Left untreated gingivitis can eventually lead to periodontal disease ( gum disease) where the bone that supports the teeth is gradually eroded away. Teeth can drift, become loose or even require removal.

What Causes Gum disease?

Gum disease is mainly caused by

a build up of Plaque and Tartar (called calculus) both above and below the gum line.
Your natural genetic susceptibility ( thanks Mum & Dad! )
Other factors such as smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, diet and nutrition

When conditions are right gum disease develops. Initial deposits of tartar cause inflammation of the gums - gingivitis. Over time as the inflammation moves deeper down the side of the tooth as the tartar spreads and eventually the bone that supports the teeth is eroded away.

The main factor that we can control in treating gum disease is plaque and tartar. Plaque is a mixture of the millions of bacteria that live in your mouth, dead skin cells that have rubbed off your gums and bits of food. Plaque and tartar cause inflammation in the gums which starts as gingivitis. In many people gingivitis in time leads to the loss of bone around your teeth which is referred to as periodontal disease or gum disease.

How To Treat Gum Disease

Contrary to popular advertising, mouthwash alone will make no difference to this problem. To treat gum disease you need to eliminate the bacteria that causes gum disease and then keep them at bay.

Treatment requires hard work from both you and our team here at the practice. We start with detailed records that allow us to measure the initial extent of the problem. With these records we can chart progress as the plaque and tartar that caused your gum disease are systematically and thoroughly removed.

What we do is only part of the solution as build up of plaque cannot be stopped completely. So we work with you to help you develop the most effective day to day homecare routine that will give you the best chance of successfully stopping your gum disease. We can also provide advice and where appropriate support in addressing other factors which impact significantly on gum disease such as smoking, diabetes and nutrition.

Gum disease is a serious condition but with an experienced and knowledgeable dental team and your own enthusiasm can be beaten. Click on the button below to book an appointment and you might just be surprised at the results.