Gum Disease

Gum or periodontal disease is the number 1 cause of tooth loss in adults. In the Adult Dental Health Survey of 2009 it was found that more than two thirds of adults had gum disease.

The main causative factor in both tooth decay and gum disease is dental plaque. Plaque grows on teeth and inadequate daily cleaning can leave plaque behind to stagnate and cause damage. Plaque growing near gum margins is an irritant to the gums and results in inflammation which is the start of gum disease. If unchecked, the inflammation spreads to affect the ligaments and bone that support the teeth and gums, causing destruction of the bone and in more advanced cases, tooth loss. Unfortunately gum disease progresses painlessly on the whole so you don’t notice the damage it is doing. Apart from possible sore gums, it is only when the disease is more advanced that it can lead to gum abscesses and pus oozing from around the teeth.

Plaque can be removed by good oral hygiene on a daily basis. Hygienists can formulate individual cleaning plans so that you can be sure your oral hygiene routine minimises your risk of gum disease Hygienists not only remove plaque which is too well organised or “sticky” to remove by regular tooth brushing but also the plaque that has calcified or hardened into calculus (sometimes called tartar).

Always keep in mind that healthy gums DON’T BLEED and that YOU are the key player in the hygiene team.

Are you living at high risk for gum disease?

• Smoking:  Numerous studies have shown that smokers have more gum disease. Smokers have increased levels of calculus or tartar in the mouth, and experience more tissue irritation, which makes their gums more susceptible to disease Smokers have more bone loss and heal less quickly than non-smokers.
• Dental neglect:  Avoiding the dentist is a lifestyle choice thatputs you at risk of contracting diseases of the mouth,teeth and gums.
• Heart Disease:  Gum inflamation products and bacteria in gum disease can cause heart disease, and in some cases, double the risk of a fatal heart attack. In addition,bacteria from your mouth may combine with blood-clotting cells called platelets, forming heart-stopping blood clots
• Stroke:  New studies show that 70% of the fatty deposits of stroke sufferers contain bacteria, of which 40% comes from the mouth.
• Diabetics:   This group of people are more likely to have gum disease than most people and gum disease makes it more difficult for diabetics to control their blood sugar.