Gum Disease – Causes, Protection, Cures

If your gums are tender, puffy, or bleed when you brush or floss, you may be among the 20 per cent of Australian adults with gum disease. And gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in Australia!

Gum disease, begins as a reversible condition called gingivitis. Caused by bacteria, untreated gum disease causes the gum to separate from the teeth, forming a bacteria-filled pocket.

Having bacteria beneath your gums is like having rot in your walls. No matter how much you work you do on the surface of them, they will eventually weaken and collapse unless the root cause of damage is treated.

This is why Bondi Dental wants you to know the causes, protective tactics against, and cures related to gum disease.

What Is It? 

Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums caused by the bacteria in plaque; a sticky, colorless film that is constantly forming on your teeth. If plaque is not removed by daily brushing and flossing, it builds up and the bacteria eventually infects the gum tissue and bone that support the teeth. This can cause teeth to become loose, fall out, or require removal by a dentist. 

What are the symptoms?

• Gums that are red, puffy or swollen, or tender
• Gums that bleed during brushing or flossing
• Teeth that look longer because your gums have receded
• Gums that have separated, or pulled away from your teeth
• Changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
• Pus coming from between your teeth and gums
• Constant bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth

Risk Factors

The risk factors for gum disease suggest some of the things you can do to avoid gum disease, or aid recovery from it.

Factors that can increase your risk of gum disease include:

• Poor oral health habits
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Substance abuse
• Obesity
• Inadequate nutrition, including vitamin C deficiency
• Certain medications that cause dry mouth or gum changes
• Conditions that cause decreased immunity, such as leukemia, HIV/AIDS and cancer treatment
• Certain diseases, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease
• Misaligned or crowded teeth, braces, or bridgework— Anything that makes it more difficult to brush or floss your teeth enhances plaque and tartar formation. The more plaque and tartar you have, the greater your chance of developing gum disease
• Stress—Stress weakens your body’s immune system. This makes it harder for your body to fight off infection, including periodontal disease.

So, do everything you can to stay healthy, and work with your dentist and doctor if you do share any of these risk factors.

Ways To Prevent Gum Disease And Keep Your Gums Healthy

Gum disease can be prevented with good oral hygiene. Here are a few ways you can prevent gum disease on your own at home, before you even have to worry!

• Floss daily, brush twice a day.
• Use therapeutic mouthwash.
• Use fluoride toothpaste, which will keep your gums looking fresh and reduce plaque.
• Do not smoke.
• Get regular checkups and cleanings!

What Can Bondi Dental Do To Treat Your Gum Disease?

For gingivitis, we remove plaque and tartar both above and below the gum line. We irrigate any infected areas with a rinse to flush out and kill more bacteria.

If the gingivitis seems serious, we sometimes ask to see patients about a month after initial treatment, to ensure the gum disease was effectively treated.

Mild periodontitis is usually treated with a cleaning called scaling and root planing. Scaling removes plaque and tartar from your teeth. Root planing digs beneath the gumline to clean smooth the root surface. This makes it harder for bacteria to adhere there and easier for the gum to attach.

In some cases, we may also prescribe an antibiotic. Once the disease has advanced to this stage, you will need to return to the dentist for more frequent cleanings.

For moderate periodontitis, in addition to the scaling and root planing therapy, we may place an antibiotic directly into the pocket to eliminate any bacteria that the cleaning alone can’t reach.

Severe periodontitis can require surgery. Typically, the pockets between teeth and gums are deeper than six millimeters and there is permanent bone damage. Some teeth may be so loose, they can’t be saved. Your teeth may have to be extracted replaced with a denture, bridge or dental implant.

Obviously, you want to avoid this with a solid oral hygienes regimen at home, and regular visits to your Bondi Dental dentist! 

The Bondi Dental Advantage

Bondi Dental is located in the Sydney area, at Bondi Beach. We offer high quality dental preventative, restorative, and cosmetic services for all patients, including children.

Our Promotions

FREE Dental Consultation including a complete dental check-up.

Interest free payments with zipMoney Mediplan

zipMoney allows you to spread the cost of your treatment with flexible interest free payments on your own terms.

Call your Bondi dentist on (02) 9365 7187 or visit us at 134 Curlewis St in Bondi Beach.