Swollen or bleeding gums, bad breath, and loose teeth are all signs of gum disease.
WHAT CAUSES GUM DISEASE?
Gum disease occurs when you have an infection from bacteria (plaque) build up on your teeth, and is the body’s attempt to try and fight the infection. Early gum disease is called gingivitis, and as well as bleeding it can also cause redness, swelling, and inflammation. Advanced gum disease is called periodontitis, and occurs when gingivitis is not treated.
Periodontitis causes:
- Swollen gums or receding gums (where your teeth appear longer)
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing
- Loose or wobbly teeth
HOW IS GUM DISEASE TREATED?
Whether you have bleeding gums, bad breath, or wobbly teeth, gum disease treatment focuses on the removal of the bacteria from the teeth. This is done by a combination of a professional cleaning (periodontal debridement) and at-home care.
When gum disease remains untreated for a long time it can lead to some dentists suggesting gum surgery to resolve the disease. This involves cutting the gums and peeling them back from the jawbone in order to clean the bacteria and buildup away from the roots of the teeth. Our dentist instead uses a cutting-edge Fotona laser to remove the buildup, clean, and disinfect around the tooth roots and gum. This prevents the need for gum surgery in most instances.
CAN GUM DISEASE BE PREVENTED?
The different signs and symptoms of gum disease can be prevented by improved at-home care, including brushing your teeth with a soft toothbrush after every meal, flossing between your teeth every day, and occasionally using certain mouthwashes. These measures are enough to prevent bad breath and bleeding gums from forming in most situations. In some circumstances where fillings have been done, you might need to see a dentist to have your fillings reshaped to prevent the buildup of plaque and development of bleeding gums or bad breath.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR GUM DISEASE?
Factors that can increase your risk of periodontitis include:
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Obesity
- Genetics
- Hormonal changes, such as those during pregnancy or menopause
- Poor oral health habits
- Systemic conditions, such as leukaemia or diabetes.
HOW DO WE TREAT GUM DISEASE WITHOUT SURGERY?
Our dentist uses the latest Fotona medical laser to provide TwinLight® Periodontal Treatment, giving comprehensive and most importantly minimally invasive periodontal therapy or gum disease treatment. This includes dual-wavelength Er:YAG and Nd:YAG lasers which allows wavelength-optimised treatment to create optimal conditions for the healing of gum tissues. This then helps prevent reinfection and promotes reduction in gum pocket depths. By using dental lasers instead of invasive gum surgery we can provide the most cost-effective treatment and simultaneously reduce or prevent the need for gum surgery.
WHAT DO I DO IF I THINK I HAVE GUM DISEASE, OR AM AT RISK OF DEVELOPING GUM DISEASE?
The first step to reducing your risk of gum disease is ensuring you maintain the best oral health routine that you can. The second step is making an appointment with our friendly dentist who has a special interest in preventing and resolving gum disease without the need for expensive or invasive gum surgery.
Click here to make an appointment with our dentist to discuss gum disease, or call our friendly reception on (02) 4956 2020 to request an appointment.
