Gum disease is one of the most common oral health problems. It develops when bacteria builds up in plaque on the teeth around the gumline, infecting or irritating the gums.
If gum disease isn’t treated in time, it can eventually lead to permanent damage, such as gum recession and tooth loss. Fortunately, this can be prevented when you know how to spot the signs and get treatment from a dentist.
Read more about the symptoms of gum disease and contact our dentists in Brisbane if you want to discuss treatment options.
Symptoms of gingivitis
Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease. At this stage, the gums may feel sore, but there isn’t usually any permanent damage.
You might have gingivitis if your gums:
- look red or purple, rather than pink
- feel sore, or tender when touched
- are swollen or puffy
- bleed when you brush or floss your teeth, or eat hard foods
Symptoms of periodontitis
Periodontitis is the advanced stage of gum disease. It can result in damage to the gums and the supporting structures around teeth, eventually leading to tooth loss.
As well as discoloured, swollen and bleeding gums, other possible signs of periodontitis are:
- Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
- Pain when chewing
- Ulcers, lumps or red patches in your mouth
- Teeth feeling loose or becoming crooked
- Gums pulling back from your teeth
- Pus around the gumline
Why it’s important to treat gum disease
Gum disease can be uncomfortable, and can lead to irreversible damage and tooth loss if it isn’t treated, but its dangers don’t end at the mouth. Periodontitis is a risk factor for many serious health conditions elsewhere in the body, including cardiovascular (heart) disease, respiratory disease, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, among others.
Treatment for gum disease depends on how far it has advanced:
- Gingivitis can usually be reversed with a combination of improving your oral care routine at home and dental hygiene treatments provided at a dental clinic.
- Periodontitis treatment may involve a combination of deep cleaning below the gum and antibiotics or other treatments. Your dentist may also discuss treatments to restore lost gum tissue or replace missing teeth.
How to prevent gum disease
Gum disease can be prevented in most cases by improving your oral hygiene routine. This includes:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day, for two minutes, using fluoride toothpaste
- Cleaning between your teeth daily, using floss or another interdental cleaning tool
- Following a balanced diet and cutting down on sugar
- Not smoking, or trying to cut down
- Seeing a dentist twice a year for a regular check-up and hygiene treatments
Gum disease treatment in Brisbane
Are you worried that you might have gum disease, or has it been longer than 6 months since you last visited the dentist? Contact our friendly team at Swish Dental to schedule an appointment at your local dental clinic in Brisbane.
Call our Everton Park clinic on (07) 3355 1422 or our Mitchelton branch on (07) 3354 3341, or you can book online.