TIPS TO AVOID GUM DISEASE

What is Gum Disease?

In 2015, approximately 538 million people were affected by gum disease worldwide. So what is it all about? Gum disease can also know as periodontal disease.

A build-up of plaque can cause the gums to become red, swollen and inflamed. This can lead to the gums and bone, which holds the teeth to start to recede. If gum disease if left untreated, your teeth are likely to become loose and may be lost.

Signs of gum disease:

Bleeding gums especially when you brush or eat hard foods.
Bad taste in your mouth and bad breath
Your gums may recede making your teeth appear longer and become sensitive to hot and cold
Later on, gaps may appear in between the teeth and your teeth may become loose leading to your teeth being lost

Tips to avoid gum disease/ periodontal disease

To avoid any plaque, brush and clean between teeth every morning and night and make sure to brush all teeth, even the back ones!
When flossing your teeth, it must be done correctly to ensure you remove all of the plaque that may be stuck in between the teeth. Floss should be ideally up to 30-40 cm in length and can help remove plaque or any food by curving the dental floss into a ‘c’ shape around your tooth.
Interdental brushes are also a quick and easy way to remove plaque building up between the teeth. At Best Health Clinics we recommend TePe Interdental brushes. Our dental hygienist and dentist will recommend the right size for you.
Try to snack less before bed! Snacking before bed and not brushing your teeth after can cause a build up of bacteria which will can lead to gum inflammation and tooth decay (dental caries).
Smoking can cause gum disease! Time to think about quitting…

How do we treat your gum disease (periodontal disease)

Our dentists and hygienists are happy to help treat your gum disease (periodontal disease) at Best Health Clinics.

We will carry our deep cleaning under your gums along the root surface, to remove the bacterial deposits causing the gum disease. This is called Root Surface Debridement.
We can use local anaesthetic so you feel comfortable during the procedure.
You will be given instructions on how to clean more effectively around the teeth and gums using toothbrushes and interdental brushes.
We will provide you with Oral hygiene instructions to carry out at home.