Most of you reading this blog will probably have heard of gum disease. Those of you who know it largely from adverts selling toothpastes specifically aimed at preventing this problem, will probably think the main issue is with the gums bleeding. While this is a symptom, along with bad breath and soreness etc, many of these are also present in the earlier stages of gum disease, often known as gingivitis.
This early stage should be taken seriously in that it should not be allowed to progress. Gingivitis is usually treatable with some improved home care and the services of our dental hygienist who will carry out a special clean known as a ‘scale and polish’. Having this done at regular six monthly intervals, brushing and flossing well at home and avoiding high risk factors such as smoking will help you to avoid this.
If gingivitis is allowed to advance though, there are more serious problems ahead and we will take a look at this advanced stage, known as ‘periodontitis’, now.
As mentioned, this is the stage of gum disease that occurs if gingivitis is not stopped in its tracks. Unlike gingivitis, which affects only the soft tissue of the gums though, periodontitis spreads below the gum line and onto the roots of the tooth, before starting to attack the bone where the tooth roots are located. As this bone degrades, the roots of the tooth can become loose and the teeth unstable. Eventually, this can lead to tooth loss – periodontitis is one of the leading causes and should be taken seriously.
As with gingivitis, periodontitis initially starts with the formation of plaque. This is a collection of bacteria that coats the teeth and gums. In itself, this is not serious and we brush this away twice a day. Even doing this though, some bacteria remain and this hardens into ‘tartar’ which is more difficult to remove and requires the services of a dental hygienist. If this doesn’t happen, then the gums become inflamed and pull away from the tooth, allowing the bacteria to make its way towards the jawbone where it starts to break it down.
There is no set list of symptoms that will occur if you have gum disease, and some people experience none or very few of these which means that you can’t rely on them before seeking treatment. This is why you should see the hygienist as a matter of routine anyway.
If you do notice any of the following symptoms though, do not wait for your next appointment and contact the 103 Dental and Implant Practice, your highly-rated dentist in Edinburgh for advice as soon as possible.
If you fail to act on these symptoms and choose to ignore them, tooth loss is a real possibility.
Although studies are still being carried out into the link between periodontitis and general health issues, it is now widely thought that it can have a potentially significant impact. This applies especially in areas like:
It is thought that these might be affected by bacteria from periodontal disease entering into the bloodstream. As you can see, it might not just be your teeth that are affected.
The most obvious thing to state is that prevention is better than cure. With good home brushing and using dental floss (please do if you don’t already), along with regular intervention by the hygienist and not smoking or drinking excessively, you stand a good chance of avoiding periodontitis.
For those that don’t take these precautionary measures, and where periodontitis occurs, there are actions that can be taken. This is usually done by a procedure known as a ‘deep clean’ or ‘root planing’. This is a highly invasive procedure that allows a suitably qualified dentist to remove plaque and tartar from below the gum line and round the tooth root and bone.
This often requires cutting into the gums to access this area which is obviously best avoided. Unfortunately, this is the main treatment available to attempt to reverse the problem and while it does have a reasonably high success rate, there are no guarantees and it is far better to avoid letting things get to this stage.
We are here to help our Edinburgh dental patients not only have a nice smile, but a healthy mouth too. This means that if you don’t currently see the hygienist, then we strongly recommend that you do so. You can contact us today to make an appointment by calling the 103 Dental and Implant Practice on 0131 608 3219.
