What is gum disease

Gum disease affects most people at some time during their life. It is usually caused by a build-up of plaque on our teeth. Plaque is a collection of millions of bacteria that cause an infection. The body fights this infection and destroys the gum tissue and ultimately the bone that supports your gums. Once the bone is lost you lose your teeth

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What are the signs and symptoms of gum disease?

One of the common signs of gum disease is bleeding gums. Swollen gums, toothache, pus extruding from gums, receding gums, bad breath, loose teeth are all other signs of gum disease and gum infection. Meticulous cleaning of teeth each day can help prevent gum disease. However it the disease has progressed you need to be seen by us to make sure we can help prevent further destruction.

How do you get swollen gums?

When bacteria produce the toxin that destroys gums, the body responds by sending our own body’s defence cells to attack the toxin. This leads to collection of fluid under the gums leading to swollen gums.

What about sore gums?

When the fluid collects under the gums, after the attack from the bacteria and our defence cells, this leads to pressure building up in the tissues. This process is called inflammation and leads to sore gums.

The different stages of gum disease

Gum disease evolves with time if it has not been taken care of. With time there is an increase in the destruction of the gum tissue and bone leading to more serious issues.

Gum Disease - Gingivitis

Gingivitis is early gum disease, which occurs when dental plaque is allowed to build up on teeth, and becomes hard 'calculus'. This is most common where the gum margin joins the tooth. The characteristics of gingivitis are bleeding, redness and swelling of the gum.

Gum Disease - Periodontitis

Periodontitis is advanced gum disease that occurs if gingivitis is not treated. The gum margin that seals to the tooth is weakened, allowing bacteria and their products to cause more inflammation in the structures below the gum margin. 

These structures include the covering of the tooth root (cementum), the bone, and the fibres that connect the cementum to the bone (periodontal ligament).

As the disease destroys these structures, spaces form between the tooth and the gum, as the bone is lost. These spaces are called 'periodontal pockets'. Further signs of periodontitis include bleeding, swelling and receding gums together with bad breath, a bad taste in the mouth and loose teeth.

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