37 Warsash Rd, Southampton
Hampshire, SO31 9HW
(01489) 573207 reception@warsashdental.co.uk

Gum Disease

Why might I be susceptible?

Periodontal disease is the Number One cause of tooth loss amongst adults. This is because a certain number of people (15-20%) have immune systems that overreact to the bad bacteria in their mouths. When this overreaction occurs, the immune system attacks and breaks down the bone and tissue that surround the tooth. This destruction is not predictable and can occur sporadically. None of us knows if we are part of this 15-20% because we can’t usually feel or notice the onset of gum and bone (periodontal) disease. Both adults and children should be routinely checked for gum disease.

Keeping your gums in shape

Keep in mind that healthy gums DON’T BLEED. You are the key player on the hygiene team. If you don’t do the essential daily brushing and flossing, the rest of your dental team (the dentist and hygienist) is playing short-handed. And sometimes with everyone fighting the good fight, stubborn plaque and bacteria will require some new maintenance techniques for battling gum infection.

GUM DISEASE IS NOT CURABLE,
BUT IT IS TREATABLE,
AND IN MOST CASES, CONTROLLABLE

Are you living at high risk for gum disease?

Smoking: Numerous studies have shown that smokers have more gum disease. Smokers have increased levels of tartar in the mouth, and experience more tissue irritation, which makes their gums more susceptible to disease. Smokers have more bone loss and heal less quickly than non-smokers.

Stress: When our immune system is stressed it is difficult to fight off the bacteria that cause gum infections.

Dental neglect: Avoiding the dentist is a lifestyle choice that puts you at risk of contracting diseases of the mouth, teeth and gums.

Floss: Your hygienist or dentist works to prevent infection in your mouth from entering the bloodstream and reaching vital organs.

Heart disease: Gum inflammation products and bacteria in gum disease can cause heart disease, and in some cases, double the risk of a fatal heart attack. In addition, bacteria from your mouth may combine with blood-clotting cells called platelets, forming heart-stopping blood clots.

Stroke: New studies show that 70% of the fatty deposits of stroke sufferers contain bacteria, of which 40% comes from the mouth.

Diabetics: This group of people are more likely to have gum disease than most people and gum disease makes it more difficult for diabetics to control their blood sugar.

Premature birth: Pregnant women who have periodontal disease may be as much as seven times more likely to have a baby born early. Some research suggests that gum disease may increase the level of hormones that induce labour.


Periodontal

Periodontics

Periodontics encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease, i.e disease that affects the supporting tissues of the teeth rather than the teeth themselves. Obviously the supporting tissues [gum, bone and periodontal ligament] are as important as the teeth they surround, for without them the teeth would be lost.

At Warsash Dental Practice we harness the latest technology and scientific know-how to first of all educate the patient about the aetiology of gum disease, and then to successfully treat it – and hopefully enable the patient to keep their teeth for life. Periodontal disease can cause mobility of teeth and halitosis [bad breath] and we are able to address all of these issues at the practice so that you can have a smile to be proud of, and a healthy mouth to go with it!

Scaling and Polishing

This is the routine removal of stains and accretions from the surfaces of the teeth in order to maintain a healthy dentition and to prevent periodontal (gum) disease.

Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment

In cases where gum disease is established we may need to carry out more extensive debridement of deposits from the crowns and roots of the teeth.  The objective here is to re-establish a healthy gingival cuff (collar of gum at the neck of the tooth).  In addition to this the patient will be provided with intensive oral hygiene instruction in order to maintain the status quo

Root Surface Debridement

Here, local anaesthesia is used to numb the root surfaces to clean them thoroughly and produce a dramatic reduction in pocket depth (an important indicator of the extent of gum disease)