Information on Periodontal (Gum) disease

If your dentist has advised you that you have gum disease don’t panic. Gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults in this country.

Treatment of Gum Disease

The treatment of gum disease is in most cases simple. It involves a partnership between you the Hygienist and Dentist.

The Hygienist will initially carry out a thorough professional cleaning of your teeth and will then advise you on the most efficient tooth brushing \ cleaning method for yourself. This may involve the use of different toothbrushes and floss.

The majority of the day to day health of your gums needs to be maintained by yourself, but you will also need to visit the Hygienist regularly so that she can clean any areas of your mouth you are unable to reach. The importance of regular visits is stressed so that the Dentist can monitor the health of your gums and the Hygienist can reassess and modify your home care as necessary.

A typical programme of treatment will therefore involve an initial phase of cleaning and oral hygiene advice, followed by follow up visits for further cleaning and reassessment on a 3 to 6 monthly basis.

As treatment is mainly preventative this programme needs to be ongoing as otherwise plaque levels will easily return especially in the areas difficult for you to clean, and the gum disease would continue to progress.

Questions and Answers

What is meant by gum disease?

This is the general term describing inflammation of the supporting tissues of the teeth. Other terms for gum disease are gingivitis or Periodontitis. Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease and it can be recognised when the gum becomes red and inflamed and bleeds when you brush your teeth or when you eat. Periodontitis is the later stages of gum disease when the bone supporting the teeth is also affected.

How likely am I to suffer from gum disease?

Most of the population suffers from gum disease in one form or another. It remains the main cause of tooth loss in adults but it does progress very slowly in most people.

What is the cause?

All gum disease is caused by plaque. This is a sticky film of bacteria, which naturally forms on the teeth of everybody. These bacteria infect the area where the gum and teeth meet causing the gum to become red and swollen. In the later stages, a space is formed between the tooth and the gum, called a pocket. This creates areas, which are more difficult to clean with a toothbrush, and these therefore fill up with plaque. As the disease progresses further, the fibres that hold the teeth to the bone itself are broken down making the pocket deeper.

What can be the result of gum disease?

In the long term you could lose your teeth through gum disease. Some people may experience bursts of activity in which the gums become swollen and bleed. Abscesses can occur and, in the worst cases, pus may ooze from the pockets resulting in an unpleasant taste and bad breath. Following one of these bursts the condition may temporarily settle but, if untreated, bone could be lost and the teeth loosen. Periodontal disease is slow in progressing and it can take a number of years for enough bone loss to occur for the teeth to become loose. Treatment of the disease becomes more difficult as it progresses.

Does anything make gum disease worse?

Yes, poor fittings and ill-fitting dentures with incorrect biting forces on teeth can make gum disease progress faster. You can also become more prone to gum disease during pregnancy and with other diseases such as diabetes. However, if you can keep plaque to a low level, there should be no greater risk in these cases.

Is gum disease painful?

Gum disease is not necessarily painful and it can progress for many years without pain. Pain is most likely to occur when you have an acute burst of gingivitis with the formation of abscesses on the gum.