Oral Hygiene

Healthy Gums

In order to keep your gums healthy you need to remove the daily build up of plaque from all the surfaces of your teeth by –

• Brushing your teeth twice a day, for two minutes each time. Ask your dentist which type of tooth brush is best for you, as many of us use brushes that are too hard or too large.
• Floss your teeth, as a toothbrush doesn’t always reach into the gaps in between the teeth or below the gum line.
• Do not brush your teeth too hard as this can damage your gums, ask your dentist to show you the correct technique
• Use fluoride toothpaste.

Healthy gums are –

• Pink in colour
• No areas of redness or inflammation
• No bleeding when brushing or flossing
• No tenderness or discomfort

If the daily build up of plaque is not removed this can lead to the first stages of gum disease ‘Gingivitis’

What is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is caused by sticky bacteria which are known as ‘plaque’. Plaque collects in the small gaps between the gums and the teeth and if not removed by regular brushing & flossing will multiply by feeding on sugars found in your food and drink. This can lead to –

• Bleeding when brushing or flossing
• Soreness or discomfort
• Appear red in colour, puffy or swollen

Bleeding when brushing or flossing your teeth is the earliest and most common sign of gingivitis. Gingivitis is reversible if treated by  a dentist or by improved brushing and flossing techniques. However, if left untreated you will develop the later stages of gum disease, which is known as ‘Periodontal Disease’.

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal Disease is the later stages of gum disease. This is when the bacteria infection under the gums progresses deeper and affects the bone and tissue supporting the tooth.

Your gums will –

• Bleed when brushing or flossing.
• Will be red, swollen and tender.
• Bad Breath.
• The gum will have pulled away from the tooth, this is called ‘Pocketing’
• Pus may be seen in the pockets around the tooth.

The infection damages the tissue that connects the gum to the roots of the tooth. Once the tissue has been destroyed the gum pulls away from the tooth, this forms a pocket which bacteria thrive in. If not treated, in time the bone anchoring the teeth in the jaw will dissolve, making the teeth loose and eventually the teeth will fall out

Periodontal disease is irreversible, but you can slow down the progression by regular visits to the Dentist and also improving your oral hygiene at home.