GUM DISEASE TREATMENT

Gum Disease Treatment

Gum disease is possibly the most serious threat to your oral and overall health of any common condition today. It is not only the leading cause of  lost teeth among adults, it’s been linked to many serious health conditions, like heart disease, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia, and cancer. And gum disease is common, affecting more than 40% of adults in Australia (including gingivitis and periodontitis). Fortunately, gum disease can be treated, and when it’s detected early, treatment can be as easy as changing your home hygiene routine.

If you are looking for gum disease treatment in Hawkesbury, please call (02) 4501 7930 or book an appointment today with a dentist at Riverlands Dental in North Richmond.

Symptoms of Gum Disease

Gum disease often goes unnoticed during its early stages. However, as the condition worsens, transitioning from gingivitis to periodontitis, the symptoms can become more obvious. Here are some symptoms of gum disease, roughly ordered from early to advanced: 
  • Swollen or reddened gums 
  • Tender gums 
  • Bleeding gums 
  • Chronic bad breath or foul taste in the mouth 
  • Food stuck in teeth or gums 
  • Receding gums 
  • Drifting teeth 
  • Loose teeth 
  • Pus between gums and teeth 
  • Lost teeth 
Gum disease can start out with minor swelling and redness on the gums. It can be hard to notice at first. It becomes more noticeable when you brush or floss your teeth. Your gums can feel tender to the touch of the toothbrush or floss. They might bleed when you brush or floss — this is not normal, it’s a sign of poor oral health. Later, your gums may bleed spontaneously.  

Everyone develops bad breath sometimes because of food we eat or beverages we drink. However, if you have bad breath all the time or most days, and it doesn't improve with brushing and flossing, you might have gum disease or another infection in your mouth.  

As bacteria increase the space between your teeth and gums, it’s more likely to get food stuck in there. Your gums might also begin receding — although it might look like your teeth are growing, it’s your gums that are pulling back from teeth.  

In advanced gum disease, bacteria attack and destroy your jaw bone. As your teeth lose their firm connection in the bone, they can begin to drift. You might notice them getting loose, and they can be lost requiring dental implants. With bad infections, you might notice pus between gums and teeth. 

  • Is Gum Disease Genetic?

    Gum disease is caused by oral bacteria, but the severity of it depends on how your body responds to the bacteria. Since genes control the response and families often share oral bacteria, you are at a higher risk for gum disease if your parents had it.

  • Does Gum Disease Hurt?

    With gum disease, your gums can be tender when you brush, floss, or eat. However, compared to the severity of the disease, it causes little discomfort.

Gum Disease Treatment

We will check the health of your gums as part of your regular dental checkups. When we detect gum disease, we will recommend appropriate treatment.  

In the early stages, we might just recommend changes to your oral hygiene routine. Sometimes lifestyle changes can also help you control gum disease.  If gum disease is a little more advanced, we might suggest that you come in more often for professional cleanings and progress checks.

As your gum disease gets more serious, we might recommend root scaling and planing. In this procedure, we clean out the space between your teeth and gums. We then smooth the root surfaces so your gums hold more tightly to your teeth. We might prescribe antibiotics to help prevent disease from returning.

More severe gum disease might require treatment by a specialist, and could include surgery and tooth extraction.

Health Consequences of Gum Disease

Although gum disease starts in the mouth, it doesn't stay there. Oral bacteria can easily progress into the blood, the lungs, and the gut. As bacteria spreads through the body, it can impact your health. Oral bacteria contribute to artery-clogging plaque, which affects your heart and can increase stroke risk. Gum disease has been linked to pneumonia and poor gut health.  

But perhaps the worst damage of gum disease is that as a long-term infection, it can compromise your immune system. Gum disease creates a state of chronic inflammation, which is harmful to the body and brain. Oral bacteria can also co-opt or deceive your immune system, which can keep it from detecting cancer or cause it to attack your joints.  

The impact of gum disease increases over time, so it’s best to treat it early.

Compassionate Gum Disease Treatment in Hawkesbury 

We know that many people with gum disease have been avoiding the dentist because of anxiety. We welcome everyone with a friendly, non judgemental attitude. This helps many people overcome anxiety, but if you have severe anxiety, sometimes sedation dentistry is recommended.  

To learn more about gum disease treatment, please call (02) 4501 7930 or book an appointment today at Riverlands Dental in North Richmond.
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