Gum disease is actually very common, far more common than you likely realise. With over half of people over 30 suffering from it. You may have heard old wives’ tales that it’s not curable, which when you look into the consequences of gum disease can be a very daunting prospect. But we want to reassure those with concerns that there are ways back from periodontal disease.

What is gum disease? It’s very simply an infection of the soft tissue in your mouth – so basically your gums. It happens when plaque and tartar build up and form bacteria in the mouth. Now lots of people can feel embarrassed about gum disease as it’s often linked to poor dental hygiene but we understand it can be really hard to get to some of the areas of the teeth and gums and sometimes people simply don’t know the correct way to brush their teeth.

What are the symptoms of gum disease?

The most common symptoms of gum disease are bleeding gums – sometimes they will bleed when you brush your teeth or it might be that it’s when you come to flossing or using an interdental brush. Either way – gums shouldn’t bleed easily and blood shows signs of inflammation

If your gums look red or inflamed this could also be a sign, if you are continuously suffering from bad breath and a bad taste in your mouth. It could be that you’ve noticed your gums are shrinking or maybe that your teeth are wobbly. If you show signs of any of these we highly recommend getting in contact with your dentist in Milton Keynes and booking an appointment as soon as possible.

How do I get diagnosed?

Your dentist in Milton Keynes will do a full assessment when you go in for a check-up. They will rule out that your symptoms are not down to any other medical conditions or caused by a medication you are taking. You will be examined by the dental team who will look for obvious signs. They will also be able to see the things you can’t like excessive plaque and tartar buildup.

Treating Gum disease

The treatment of gum disease will vary depending on its severity. Sometimes all you will need is a scale and polish. Scaling works by removing tartar and bacteria from the gums. They could also do root planning which smooths the surface of the teeth to stop further buildup. In some cases a course of antibiotics could be used to help control the infection.

In more advanced cases there are surgical treatments that could be used but the is very rare.

Once you have had your dental treatment you need to make sure you are upkeeping a good dental routine at home – brushing twice daily, flossing and using interdental brushes to reach those tricky points in the mouth. Gum disease can have major implications long term including tooth loss – so it’s important you stay on top of your teeth.

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