Gum Disease Overview
Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss. Gums are the foundations of your teeth and they must be healthy in order to support them.
Bacteria left in your mouth around the neck of teeth cause the gums to become inflamed, thus making them bleed spontaneously or when you brush or floss. Some people are more susceptible to this bacterium than other people and often can run in families. Gum disease is often painless until it is too late.
Gum disease can:
- Make your gums bleed,
- Loosen your teeth
- Affect your breath
- Affect your overall health: there is evidence of gum disease linking with strokes, heart disease and diabetes
Your dentist or hygienist can give you lots of advice to help you manage your gum disease at home. An excellent home care routine will help prevent gum disease. You may also receive a deep clean above and under the gums to remove the offending bacteria. This treatment can be done with or without local anesthetic.