Gum disease

Definition

Gum disease is a serious infection that, if left untreated, may lead to tooth loss as well as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, respiratory diseases and premature/underweight babies.

Periodontal disease can affect one tooth or many teeth. It begins when the bacteria in plaque (the sticky, colourless film that constantly forms on your teeth) cause the gums to become inflamed.

Causes

The main cause of gum disease is bacteria; however, many other factors, like the food and sweets you eat, can cause gum disease or influence its progression.

Gingivitis

In the mildest form of this disease, the gums redden, swell and bleed easily, but there is usually little or no discomfort. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care.

Periodontitis

Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself and the tissues and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. This destructive process has often only mild symptoms but, eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

Treatment

General treatment guidelines stress that periodontal health should be achieved in the least invasive and most cost-effective manner. This is often accomplished through non-surgical periodontal treatment, including scaling and root planing (a careful cleaning of the root surfaces to remove plaque and calculus (tartar) from deep periodontal pockets and to smooth the tooth root to remove bacterial toxins.

Most periodontists would agree that after scaling and root planing, many people do not require any further active treatment, for example surgical therapy. However, the majority of people will require ongoing maintenance therapy to sustain healthy teeth and gums. Non-surgical therapy does have its limitations and when it does not achieve periodontal health, surgery may be indicated to restore periodontal health damaged by periodontal diseases and facilitate oral hygiene practices.

Periodontal surgery

If you’re diagnosed with periodontal disease, your periodontist may recommend periodontal surgery. Periodontal surgery is necessary when the tissue around your teeth is unhealthy and cannot be repaired with non-surgical treatment.

Contact a local periodontist who’s an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease when necessary.

Self-care at home

Good oral hygiene prevents periodontal disease.

• • Brush the teeth at least twice every day. Brushing removes plaque from the inner, outer and chewing surfaces of each tooth. A dental hygienist can demonstrate the proper technique

• • Get a new toothbrush every three months. Use a tooth paste that contains fluoride

• • Floss every day. Flossing removes plaque between the teeth that a toothbrush cannot reach

• • Use a mouthwash that kills bacteria

• • Eat a well-balanced diet; avoid too many sweets.

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EAP) is available 24 hours a day if you want to know more about gum disease.