What is periodontal gum disease?
What is gum disease?
Gum disease, also referred to as periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the gum and sometimes bone supporting your teeth.
In Australia, 3 in every 10 adults have moderate to severe gum disease.
How do I know if I have gum disease?
Gum disease is almost impossible to self-diagnose due to its silent nature. It most commonly occurs without any pain or discomfort and a lack of bleeding gums while brushing isn’t enough to rule it out.
Routine dental exams are important as it allows us to assess your gums both visually, looking for any signs of inflammation or swelling and diagnostically through a gum health check.
Is gum disease curable?
With the correct treatment and management our aim is to regain health and stability.
Depending on the extent and severity, this may involve a deep clean under local anaesthetic followed by more routine ongoing appointments to allow us to keep an eye on the health.
How do I know if I am at risk of developing gum disease?
Similar to developing a cavity, everyone has some degree of risk for developing gum disease. This risk is heightened based on certain factors, including but not limited to: a family history of gum disease, whether you smoke (past or present), your general health and wellbeing and your day-to-day dental habits including how frequently you see a dentist.
I have been going to the dentist for years, why has this never been brought up before?
Our bodies change overtime. Just like you may develop a cavity since your last dental visit, the health of your gums may also show signs of deterioration. This is why routine dental visits are so important.
We place a strong emphasis on prevention and this is why gum health checks are completed at every check up and clean appointment.
If I brush and floss more will this help reduce the chance of developing gum disease?
Brushing and flossing (or any other form of cleaning between the teeth) is critical in reducing your risk of gum disease.
The quality of brushing and flossing far outweighs the quantity. We will always review your brushing and flossing technique to make sure you’re on the right track!
