Many of you will have seen adverts on TV alerting you to the fact that if you see blood when you brush your teeth, you may have gum disease. This is all well and good (and also true), but there can be many other indications that gum disease is present, and indeed, no obvious signs at all, which is why it is important to have this professionally monitored on an ongoing basis.
In today’s blog, we are going to take a look at some of the more common gum disease symptoms that our Witham patients might experience and look at what you can do to minimise the risk of this happening and when to seek intervention at Blake Dental.
Let us look at some of the more likely possible symptoms first
This one is fairly well known thanks to advertising. If, after brushing your teeth, you notice that there is blood in your spit, there is a chance that this is caused by gingivitis or periodontitis. While it could also indicate a small cut in your gums, it is always best to have this issue checked out by the dentist for further advice.
Anyone who has ever smelled bad breath (halitosis) caused by gum disease will almost certainly recognise it at once. It can smell really strongly and is caused by the gases that are emitted by bacteria as they attack the gums. If people start to avoid you when you are talking to them or move away from you when you speak, you should see the dentist to have this investigated.
When healthy, your gums should be a pink colour. If they are red or inflamed, there is something clearly wrong and you should have it checked as soon as possible. There may also be pus too in some cases and this is a clear warning sign that urgent attention is needed.
While gingivitis attacks only the gums, the more advanced stage of gum disease known as periodontitis, also damages the bone that secures your teeth in place. When this bone becomes damaged your teeth may start to move. If not addressed quickly, this can lead to teeth even falling out and needing to be replaced by dentures or the latest dental implants where appropriate.
In order to maintain healthy gums, you need a good quality tooth cleaning regime. This means not only brushing your teeth but aiming the bristles towards the gums too so that any debris or bacteria can be removed from below the gum line. Your toothbrush bristles should be healthy and no more than three months old and there are some good quality toothpastes that are specifically aimed at gum disease prevention and we can offer advice on this as well.
You should also use dental floss. No excuses about it being ‘tricky’ or ‘fiddly’. This is essential for removing bacteria and food from between the teeth. Our dental hygienist will be happy to demonstrate how to do this if you really struggle with it or offer alternative advice for those who can’t, such as those with mobility issues in their hands for instance.
Let us presume that you already see a dentist at Blake Dental for regular check ups. You should also add to this, regular hygienist visits. These will mostly be every six months, but for some people, such as diabetics and smokers who are more prone to gum disease, these may need to be more frequent.
Our hygienist will discuss your oral health and make suggestions where improvements can be made. They will also carry out a ‘scale and polish’. This is a non-invasive procedure that removes hardened bacteria and minerals that form a ‘crust’ on the teeth and gum line that is known as tartar or calculus. Removing this creates a smoother surface that is more resistant to further bacteria collecting.
Where gum disease is at a more advanced stage, you may require a deep clean to remove the bacteria from the roots of the tooth and surrounding bone. This is naturally much more invasive but may be the only way to attempt to save teeth from falling out.
Like most dental issues, the best approach is prevention. Whether you are currently experiencing any gum disease symptoms or not at the moment, we strongly recommend that you start the preventative care straight away, both at home and by booking an appointment with our friendly hygienist. You can do this by giving us a call at our Witham dental clinic on 01376 501688.
Design by Dental Media
Katie Annabel Blake trading as Blake Dental is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Financing First Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Katie Annabel Blake is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Financing First Limited may not be so authorised and regulated.
