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Oral Hygiene and Gum Disease Prevention
Our comprehensively-trained and highly-experienced dental hygienists are experts in oral hygiene and preventative dental care, providing a robust defence against the insidious affects of gum disease.
What is Gum Disease?
It sounds self-explanatory, doesn't it? But gum disease, more properly known as periodontal disease, doesn't just refer to an infection of the tissues surrounding the teeth (i.e. the gums). Gum disease can also affect the bone supporting the teeth. When this happens, periodontal disease or periodontitis can very easily result in the loss of one or more teeth. In especially severe cases, the bone that originally supported the tooth breaks down (known as resorption) and this effectively limits cosmetic repair options as it makes it incredibly difficult to stabilize dentures or properly fit implants.
Ironically, many people regard visits to a professional dental hygienist as an expensive luxury. However, compared to the cost of remedial dental treatment, the cost of preventative oral hygiene is a drop in the ocean.
How do I Know if I have Gum Disease?
Alarmingly, periodontitis – unlike most dental problems – is a painless condition, so taking a 'it doesn't hurt so it can't be serious approach' is potentially disastrous. Thankfully, there are a whole host of symptoms which may indicate the presence of gum disease. Here are the most typical:
- The gums are red, perhaps a little swollen, and prone to bleeding, particularly when brushing the teeth.
- Bad breath. Many of the bacteria associated with gum disease produce hydrogen sulphide and methylmercaptan, particularly foul-smelling gases.
- Receding gums. Although this is often the result of overly-forceful brushing, gum disease can also cause the gums to retract, and it is always best to seek the advice of a qualified dental hygienist.
- Loose teeth. As gum disease erodes away the bone supporting the tooth, it can result in loose teeth, also known as tooth mobility. As with receding gums, it is advisable to seek guidance.
- Tooth migration. This is an extreme example of tooth mobility and is as a direct result of the loss of the supporting bone and tissues surrounding the tooth. In particularly severe cases, a visible, and often pronounced, gap may appear between the teeth.
Oral Hygiene Advice
As gum disease has the potential to wreak havoc on your mouth and teeth, it is always best to seek advice if you even suspect you may be suffering from periodontitis. Call our Liverpool dental surgery and one of our team of friendly experts will be more than happy to answer your oral hygiene questions.