Gum Disease is more common than a lot of people think and sometimes it can be too late before its identified. As a serious dental condition, it is something where you don’t want to miss the early warning signs. Our gum disease treatment in Victoria and Chelsea can help you identify any potential issues.
Facts About Gum Disease
Here are some quick facts about Gum Disease and how you can identify it.
- It can go unnoticed without early identification
- It can form pockets between the gum and tooth which fill with plaque and bacteria, attacking the fibres holding the tooth
- Gums can become red, swollen and firm, indicating gum disease
- Periodontal disease is one of the primary reasons for tooth loss in adults
- Sensitivity of the tooth may occur as an early warning sign
- Receding gums are a clear sign of gum problems
- Deep pockets between the gum and tooth can emerge
- Bad fillings or old, decaying fillings can be a direct cause for gum disease
- An excess of calculus (the thin smelly white coating along the tooth/gum line) can contribute to gum disease
- Persistent bad breath is a strong indicator that something isn’t right.
- Loose teeth are sometimes a result of gum diseas
- Heavy bleeding when brushing or flossing can be a contributing factor
Myths of Gum Disease
Here are the most common myths surrounding Gum Disease Treatment
Gum Disease is not that common
It’s very common, both in the USA and the UK. It’s probably the easiest “disease†that can occur just through dental attrition and lack of hygiene on a regular basis. Eventually, bacteria-ridden gaps between teeth and calculus build up, bleeding gums and deep pockets can occur, which causes gum disease to take hold. Simple hygiene, regular brushing and yearly visits to the dentist can help prevent it.
Gum Disease will result in me losing my teeth
Unless the gum disease has advanced in a serious way, it’s unlikely you will lose your tooth and in fact, most dentists will be able to perform treatment and ongoing work in order to help save your tooth. Regular treatment and a trip to the hygienist will help get you back on track after the main preventative treatment has been completed.
Gum Disease only affects your dental health
Gum disease unfortunately, not only affects your dental health but also your overall health. It has been known to affect your heart, cause stroke symptoms and respiratory diseases, as well as be quite serious for pregnant women.
Gum Disease treatment can be painful
As with many dental treatments, there are many pain relief methods used by dentists and hygienists now, offering anaesthetics and sedation treatment to help relieve any associated pain. It’s certainly nowhere near as uncomfortable as it would be if you have advanced gum disease and it results in losing teeth.
Regular bleeding gums are normal
This isn’t true. From time to time we may brush slightly too hard and we see a bit of blood but by no means should your gums bleed on a regular basis. This indicates a potential issue with your gums and you should visit your dentist as soon as possible to identify what the problem might be.
Gum Disease is a minor infection and can be cleared with antibiotics
When gum disease is advanced it can be a very serious infection that can affect the rest of the body, as with any other infection. The issue with antibiotics is that once antibiotics are used to resolve a serious gum disease infection it can have a negative effect on future use of antibiotics for other ailments, due to the possibility of resistance to those antibiotics and so usually, they are a last resort and this is a key reason why you should avoid a potential gum problem from becoming too advanced.
No cavities mean healthy gums
Even if there are no cavities, this doesn’t mean your gums are completely healthy. Sensitivity and inflamed and bleeding gums can occur even without cavities present. Never assume that because one symptom is missing that there is no chance of other issues arising.
Check out our page on how to treat gum disease, advice on the benefits of interdental brushing and our in-house treatment in Victoria.
