At our surgery we can give you much more detailed and explanation and advice about treatments but patients are encouraged to do their own research on the internet as well.

Several appointments were needed over several months to achieve a much improved result. It is very difficult to replace the bone lost through gum disease and therefore this patient has been left with gaps between her teeth. However, the whole mouth is a lot healthier and the rate of the gum disease has been dramatically slowed and the patient is no longer nervous. Figure 2

Gum disease in associated with halitosis and bad tastes.

There are many types of gum disease but the most common type is linked to poor oral hygiene and smoking.

The common signs of gum disease are
Bleeding gums
Bad breath
Loose teeth

It is important for your dentist to assess your gums as often as necessary by performing a BPE examination. This is a painless examination which allows a quick an easy assessment of your gums.

Many patients are unaware that they have a gum problem which if left untreated can result in your teeth falling out.

Please feel free to look at our information sheets attached below:

• You have been identified as a patient needing intensive tooth / gum cleaning.

You may already brush your teeth properly but if there areas (pockets) under the gum then you will be unable to reach these. These pockets contain bacteria which may be responsible for gum disease. Treating gum disease is very unpredictable and therefore a complete “cure” is not guaranteed. We will require you to improve your oral hygiene to achieve an improvement.

• The aims of your treatment are:

To achieve a reduction the numbers of bacteria in these pockets and reduce the size of the pockets too.
To improve the overall quality of your gums
To reduce the amount of bleeding and bad tastes from your gums
To improve your home brushing technique

• Treatment given / proposed:

We may need to temporarily stain your teeth to show where the plaque is.
We may need to give you a small injection whilst we clean under your gums
We may wish to place an antiseptic / antibiotic in any pockets we find
We may need to clean your teeth / gums over several visits

• Afterwards:

Your gums may be sore for a couple of days
Please continue to brush twice daily
Please use any mouthwashes advised (mouthwashes may cause a temporary stain on your teeth which will usually brush off)
Please contact the surgery if you have any queries

SMOKING INCREASES THE RISK OF DEVELOPING GUM DISEASE.


GUMS

Healthy gums are:

• Pink.
• Attached firmly to the teeth
• Do not bleed on brushing

Gingivitis (inflamed gums):

• Reddened gums which bleed easily
• Is caused by plaque build up due to incorrect brushing
• May be treated with oral hygiene instruction and scaling
• Needs to be treated as it may progress to periodontitis (gum disease)

Periodontitis (gum disease)

• The teeth and gums may initially be firm and appear almost normal
• Often painless
• Often associated with bad breath
• Bleeding
• Eventually loosening and loss of teeth and abscesses
• Spacing may develop between the teeth as they loosen

Treatments available:

• Simple scaling and polishing
• Deep scaling and polishing under a local anaesthetic.
• Deep scaling and polishing with the application of antibiotics/antiseptics under the gums to help reduce bacteria there
• Gum surgery may be needed in extreme cases

All the above treatments will only help if the teeth are brushed and flossed properly and regularly at home. The use of a mouthwash is beneficial but not as a substitute for brushing. The aim is to remove the plaque.

SMOKING GREATLY INCREASES THE CHANCES OF DEVELOPING GUM DISEASE

Facts about plaque

• Plaque is the major cause of periodontal (gum) diseases.
• Plaque is made up mostly of bacteria which normally inhabit the mouth.
• Plaque is a visible film and takes 24 hours to grow.
• Plaque can be stained using disclosing tablets to make it easier to see.
• Plaque uses sugar (especially sucrose) to attack teeth and gums.
• Plaque bacteria do not have to rely on food intake for their growth because adequate nutrients are present in the mouth especially when there is gingivitis.
• Plaque bacteria attach strongly to the tooth surface and require brushing or flossing to be dislodged.
• Plaque if left undisturbed grows and the numbers of different types of bacteria increases and become potentially more harmful. An unpleasant odour may occur.
• Some mouthwashes are active against plaque formation but not really against established plaque.
• With time, plaque becomes hard and turns into calculus. This can lead to further gum damage and bone loss and therefore eventual tooth loss.