Healthy Gum & Gum Diseases ! FAQ

What is gums?

Gum is main part of your mouth that support your teeth in their normal position..for healthy teeth your gums should be healthy..

What is gum disease?

Gum disease is described as swelling, and infection of gums. There are two main forms of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontal disease also known as a pyoria in conman term.

 What is gingivitis?

Gingivitis means "inflammation of the only gum without involving bone"..In this gums become red and swollen.. bleeding may occur during brushing and/or chewing.

What is periodontal disease?

Long-standing gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease. In this bone is also involved so tooth support may lost which result into the loosing of the teeth..so due to periodontis u might loose your teeth.

Am I likely to suffer from gum disease?

Probably. Most people suffer from some form of gum disease, and it is a major ca

use of tooth loss in adults. However, the disease develops very slowly in most people, and it can be slowed down to a rate that should allow you to keep most of your teeth for life.

What is the cause of gum disease?

All gum disease is caused by plaque. Plaque is a film of bacteria which forms on the surface of the teeth every day. Many of the bacteria in plaque are completely harmless, but there are some that have been shown to be the main cause of gum disease. To prevent and treat gum disease, you need to make sure you remove all the plaque from your teeth every day. This is done by brushing and cleaning in between the teeth with ‘inter-dental' brushes or floss. See our leaflet ‘Tell me about Caring for my teeth and gums' for how to do this.

How will smoking affect my gums and teeth?

Smoking can also make gum disease worse. People who smoke are more likely to produce bacterial plaque, which leads to gum disease. The gums are affected because smoking causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream, so the infected gums don't heal. Smoking causes people to have more plaque and the gum disease to get worse more quickly than in non-smokers. Gum disease is still a major cause of tooth loss in adults.

What happens if gum disease is not treated?

Unfortunately, gum disease does not usually cause pain as it gets worse so you do not notice the damage it is doing. However, the bacteria are sometimes more active and this makes your gums sore. This can lead to gum abscesses, and pus may ooze from around the teeth. Over a number of years, the bone supporting the teeth can be lost. If the disease is left untreated for a long time, treatment can be more difficult.

What do I do if I think I have gum disease?

The first thing to do is visit your dental team for a thorough check-up of your teeth and gums. They will measure the 'cuff' of gum around each tooth to see if there is any sign that periodontal disease has started. X-rays may also be needed to see the amount of bone that has been lost. This assessment is very important, so the correct treatment can be prescribed for you.

What treatments are needed?

Your dental team will remove all plaque and tartar from your teeth. You will also be shown how to remove plaque successfully yourself, cleaning all the surfaces of your teeth thoroughly and effectively. This may take a number of sessions with the dental team. A good oral care routine at home with brushing and interdental cleaning is the most important thing you can do to help prevent gum disease getting worse.

What else may be needed?

Once your teeth are clean, your dental team may need to treat the roots of the teeth to make sure that the last pockets of bacteria are removed. This is called ‘root planing'. You'll probably need the treatment area to be numbed before anything is done. Afterwards, you may feel some discomfort for up to 48 hours.

How do I know if I have gum disease?

Firstly u observe bleeding from your gums during brushing or chewing..u may also have bad breath during morning or whole day..sometime u may  feel pain in your gums .you feel like your teeth became loose so you are not able to chew your food properly.

Once I have had periodontal disease, can I get it again?

periodontist treatment include cleaning of teeth and gums also..dentist do all this work but your support is m mandatory..u have to brush your teeth twice in a day with proper brushing technique which taught to you by your dentist..u have to clean your mouth properly..for that gargles two times is required..and if other oral hygiene aids is required then u should used them also..by this u can prevent periodontitis.

I have heard gum disease is linked with other health conditions 

– is this true?

In recent years gum disease has been linked with general health conditions such as diabetes, strokes, cardiovascular disease, poor pregnancy outcomes and even dementia. More research is needed to understand how these links work but there is more and more evidence that having a healthy mouth and gums can help improve your general health and reduce the costs of medical treatment.

Can I lighten the color of my teeth?

Yes. Tooth whitening can be a highly effective way of lightening the natural color of your teeth without.

Edited And Corrected By DR. Urvi Rangrej (Periodontist)
Written By Dr. Wajid M Saiyed.  (Implantologist)

*some images are copied from the net for educational Purpose