No one wants to cross paths with gum disease

Gum disease (AKA periodontal disease) is an infection of the gum tissue. Typically, it’s caused by poor brushing and flossing habits. This causes a build-up of plaque on your teeth. (You know that icky, sticky film you can sometimes feel with your tongue?) If plaque remains on the teeth, it hardens and turns into tartar—which irritates and infects the gum tissue. If gum disease is left untreated, it can spread to the underlying bone. Chewing can become painful and, in serious cases, teeth can become loose or need removing.

Common gum disease symptoms include:

• Bleeding gums, especially when brushing or flossing
• Gum redness and inflammation
• Bad breath
• Receding gums
• Tooth sensitivity
• Pain when biting or chewing
• Shifting or loose teeth
• Tooth loss

If you experience severe pain, this may be the sign of a dental emergency. Give us a buzz on (02) 9361 4044. We set aside 1-hour appointments—to get you out of pain and back smiling again in a flash!

There are two main stages of gum disease:

• Gingivitis—a mild, early-stage gum disease.
• Periodontitis—a more severe type of gum disease that is further broken down into early, moderate, and advanced stages.

The good news is that gingivitis is curable, leaving no lasting damage. Periodontitis can’t be reversed, but it can be managed with the help of your dentist. 

Taking proper care of your teeth and gums and having regular dental check-ups can help keep gum disease at bay.

Gum disease treatment depends on which stage of gum disease you have. In some cases, a professional dental clean may be all that’s needed to clear up mild gingivitis. If the gum disease has progressed to periodontitis, scaling and root planing will be needed. This is a non-surgical treatment where your dentist removes the plaque and tartar from beneath your gums (scaling). Planing smooths and cleans the surface of your teeth roots. This process allows your gums and teeth roots to reconnect. It also reduces the size of dental pockets. This helps stop bacteria from becoming trapped and secures your tooth within the bone.

If the gum disease is advanced, surgery may be the best option. Gum disease surgery is a common procedure. A small cut is made in the gum and a section of the tissue is folded back. Infected gum tissue is removed. Any plaque or bacteria that’s living below the gum line is cleaned away. Following treatment, the gums are sutured back using dissolvable stitches.