Your gums are the supporting structures of your teeth. If the foundations of a house are cracked and rotten, the house will fail. Similarly, healthy gums are needed to keep your teeth for your lifetime. Red, puffy and bleeding gums are signs of inflammation.
One of the important things that we assess your comprehensive first examination at Willow Dental Care is the condition of your gums and the bone that supports your teeth.
Periodontal disease is sneaky and quiet, and can remain undetected for years while the bone slowly dissolves around the teeth. If you have a cavity in your tooth you are motivated to seek treatment quickly because you have pain on cold or notice a change in the shape of the tooth.
With gum disease you might only notice bleeding gums or an unpleasant odour or taste. Sometimes there are no obvious signs. Unless your dentist performs a dedicated check to see if there are any pockets in the gums or any loss of bone around the teeth, it may be some time before you notice a major problem.
When there is a significant amount of bone loss the tooth may become loose and infected. Even a perfectly good tooth that has no cavities or fillings may need to be extracted if it becomes affected like this.
The main cause of gum disease is the presence of plaque bacteria. This is the soft sticky plaque that builds up on teeth, as well as hard yellow or brown tartar.
You may be at higher risk if you have factors like family history, smoking, or diabetes.
Treatment for gum disease may include deep cleaning to remove all the gunk under the gums, often using local anaesthetic to keep you comfortable. We will also help you with your home cleaning technique to ensure that less plaque and tartar will build up between Appointments.
The best results come when you and your dentist work together to prevent further gum inflammation and bone loss, helping you to keep your teeth for your lifetime.
If you’re experiencing bleeding gums or inflammation, we invite you to contact our clinic, your general dentist in Norwest, NSW. Our friendly and knowledgeable team at Willow Dental Care can assess and treat your oral health issues with the highest quality of care. Book Online