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Gum Disease Wimbledon – What Is It?
Here at Infinitidental Clinic, we have treated hundreds of people with gum disease in Wimbledon. Unfortunately, gum disease is a very common condition that affects most adults across the UK, to some degree during their lifetime. Although some children can also experience gum disease, it tends to be a lot more prominent in adults.
As part of our dental examination we routinely screen for gum disease with a Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE). Further scoring and indices may be taken depending on the outcome of the BPE. You may have gum disease if you bleed when brushing your teeth or if your gums are infected, sore or swollen.
Gum disease is a broad term and is made up of two conditions:
- Gingivitis – red, swollen and bleeding gums with no loss of underlying bone or connective tissue. Reversible in nature with good oral hygiene and cleaning of the teeth.
- Periodontitis – this describes the situation when there has been irreversible destruction of the underlying bone and connective tissue attachment. In these instances, the overlying gum with time generally recedes and loses it close attachment to the tooth surface. The resultant space or void is known as a “pocket.
It is thought that the main cause of gum disease is plaque bacteria that build up on tooth surfaces. This film of plaque builds up continuously at varying speeds between individuals even once the teeth are cleaned. Failure therefore to disrupt and remove this film of plaque adequately on a daily basis is therefore the primary cause of gum disease. Gum disease can start and get progressively worse if you fail to look after your mouth properly. For example, failing to brush your teeth effectively at least twice per day may result in the build of plaque that starts to irritate your gums. This irritation causes an immune response which can develop into symptoms of bleeding, soreness and swollen gums.
Smoking makes a significant contribution to gum disease. The degree of destruction, response to treatment and success are all adversely affected. Genetics also plays a large role in your response to plaque bacteria. Some patients don’t really seem to suffer with destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth despite less than ideal oral hygiene. Others may clean really well and still suffer despite their efforts. It is important to note that currently controlling the body’s immune response to plaque bacteria is not a mainstream treatment for gum disease, so efforts should concentrate on reduction of plaque bacteria by achieving excellent home oral hygiene with professional in surgery support and efforts to quit smoking.
Treatments For Gum Disease Wimbledon
Primarily the treatment of choice is to thoroughly clean the teeth and gums in a process commonly termed a “scale and polish”. The purpose is to immediately disrupt and remove the deposits of plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) that’s settled on your teeth from just blow the gum line. When there has been some loss of the connective tissue due to Periodontitis, “Root Surface Debridement” (RSA) Is the name given to the process where the tooth surfaces are cleaned below the gum line to the base of the pocket.
Using industry-leading equipment, our dentists in Wimbledon will be able to give you the professional clean you need. At our disposal we also have air polishers that are used to remove stain very efficiently. Our dental hygienist is skilled in the use of desensitising toothpastes, topical anesthesia and conventional local anaesthesia should any be required to minimise any discomfort yet allow an amazingly thorough clean.
Our dentists and hygienists have a wealth of experience and will encourage and motivate you to improve your oral hygiene and minimise the build-up of plaque and disrupt its formation. There are many adjuncts to conventional treatment available to combat the multifactorial aetiology of gum disease. These include the use of local and systemic anti microbials which should only be used for a limited time only on the advice of your oral health care professional as it is important to understand the pros and cons of each of the below:
- Systemic antibiotics to take orally.
- Local antibiotic gels to apply to the affected gum pockets e.g. Dentomcyin®.
- Local antimicrobial chlorhexidine chips to place in deeper gum pockets e.g. Periochip®.
- Mouthwashes such as Corsodyl® and Peroxyl® that may slow down the build up of plaque and kill certain microbes. Although it may not get to the route of the problem, it helps to stop gum disease from getting worse.
Severe gum disease
Although the above treatments work effectively for mild to moderate gum disease, we recommend further treatment for more severe cases. Periodontal surgery may be required as an initial alternative to removing the tooth. This type of surgery helps to regrow damaged bones and tissues, eliminate bacteria and also reduce gum gaps between teeth.
Preventing gum disease
At Infinitidental Clinic we always encourage our patients to embrace a preventative approach. Prevention is better than cure. In our busy lives, we can often get lazy or start to become inconsistent with looking after our oral health. However, it’s good to start making good habits to look after your mouth for the years to come and prevent tooth loss. Here are a few key points you should follow for practicing good oral hygiene and preventing gum disease:
- Regular dental check-ups.
- Regular hygiene visits.
- Brushing teeth thoroughly at least twice a day.
- Use interdental cleaning aids DAILY.
- Use mouthwash daily.
- Reduce total sugar consumption and frequency of sugary intake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gum disease is caused when excess plaque and tartar build up on the gums and teeth. Plaque is built up daily but well managed with best practices such as brushing and flossing daily. However, when daily practices are neglected, patients are putting themselves more at risk from developing gum disease. Furthermore, gum disease can also develop as a result of of dietary choices and smoking.
The most obvious indicator of gum disease is on the toothbrush or in the rinsing water when you clean your teeth. Your gums may also bleed when you are eating, leaving a bad taste in your mouth. Your breath may also become unpleasant.
When you come and see our dentists for gum disease, the first thing that we will do is to give your teeth a thorough clean. Because the build up of plaque is the cause of gum disease, our hygienists and dental professionals will also show you how to successfully remove plaque yourself by demonstrating the best ways to brush and floss.
Here at Infinitidental Clinic, we are big advocates of going for the preventative approach. Having excellent oral hygiene and seeing you dentist regularly can help to prevent gum disease. Furthermore, if you are smoking regularly, it’s advisable to get help to quit so that you have much less of a chance of developing gum disease. Brushing and flossing daily for two minutes a time is also essential.
Most people suffer from some form of gum disease, and it is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. However, the disease develops very slowly in most people, and it can be slowed down to a rate that should allow you to keep most of your teeth for life.
It’s essential to intervene and seek treatment as early as possible for gum disease. If gum disease is left untreated for a considerable amount of time, patients are at severe risk of tooth loss. Even more serious than that, patients may also be a an increased risk of suffering from a stroke or heart attack. If you are a diabetic it can result in issues with trying to control your blood sugar levels, and in women it can have an effect when giving birth as it heightens the risk of having a baby with a low weight at birth.
Yes, gum disease can cause bad breath in patients. If you have gum disease, your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth and cause you to have bad breath. This is commonly due to the build up of plaque that gets stuck in your teeth and gums.
Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease where you will notice inflammation of the gums and the teeth becoming red and swollen. If Gingivitis is not treated properly, it may escalate to a condition called periodontal disease. There are a number of types of periodontal disease and they all affect the tissues supporting the teeth. As the disease advances, the bone anchoring the teeth in the jaw is lost, making the teeth loose. If this is not treated, the teeth may eventually fall out.
This depends on a lot of varying factors and the current condition of the patients’ dental health. Infinitidental Clinic encourage good oral cleaning initially to remove all plaque and tartar that may be contributing towards gum disease. Once cleaned, it’s likely that we will prescribe patients a mouthwash to help remove further plaque.
There is increasing evidence that shows stress can accelerate gum disease. As a result of stress and anxiety, patients are much more likely to wear down the enamel on their teeth by teeth clenching and grinding regularly without perhaps even knowing it.
Contact Us Today
If you’re struggling with gum disease in Wimbledon or starting to show the symptoms mentioned above, we urge you to get in touch with our professionals at Infinitidental Clinic. For years, we’ve been treating patients the right way for gum disease at mild, moderate and severe levels. To find out about availability and book an appointment with us, please call us directly today. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible!