Gum disease is the silent epidemic
Are your gums swollen, red or bleeding? It may be caused by periodontal gum disease. Let us tailor a gum maintenance and treatment plan for you.
Did you know that gum disease is among the most common health conditions affecting adults worldwide? And what’s worse, is that in the majority of cases, gum disease is painless and can fester for years and years before showing any noticable signs. We’ve seen many cases of gum disease being left for too long and resulted in the patient losing valuable teeth and ultimately being unable to eat well and feeling very embarrassed by their smile.
Good gum maintenance gives you solid foundations
Your gums (or in dental lingo – periodontal tissues) actually comprise the soft pink attached skin wrapping around your teeth, connective tissue attachments, and the bone surrounding the teeth roots.
These form solid bases to hold your teeth in your jaw, so that they have the strength to chew through your favourite nutty muesli and pizza crusts. Your healthy gums also hold your teeth in fixed positions while you flash a smile for the photographer at your birthday bash.
In contrast, diseased gums are inflamed and irritated. They bleed, swell, recede, and enter a cycle of continuous destruction. Some other signs of gum disease that may show up include bad breath, general area discomfort that’s worse after meals.
As the gum disease progresses, it can cause looseness of teeth, more severe and constant pain, and can even lead to your teeth falling out completely painlessly. Imagine waking up to a tooth on your pillow one morning – not nice!
You can get gum disease assessment and treatment at your local dentist
Here are some of the common reasons that cause gum disease. It is not an exhaustive list, but can be a screening tool. How many of these apply to you?
- Not using dental floss / interdental brushes / water-flosser to clean in between your teeth daily.
- Family history / genetics (Did your parents or grandparents lose some of their teeth at a fairly young age?)
- Are you / were you a smoker?
- Do you have a nutritional deficiency, e.g. lacking in vitamin C?
- Do you have any chronic medical conditions such as an autoimmune condition or diabetes?
- Have you had any hormonal changes due to reasons such as pregnancy, menopause etc.?
Fear not, there is hope for your periodontitis
With early detection and intervention, periodontitis (gum disease) is one of those conditions that responds really well to conservative treatment.
Guided by our holistic approach, we work with you to identify all of the hereditary, medical, lifestyle, and habitual factors that may be contributing to your gum condition, and create a plan to improve your gum issues one by one.
The treatment often involves ensuring your gum tissues surrounding your teeth are free of plaque and debris that harbour bacteria. We then equip you with all the necessary techniques and knowledge to be able to do your gum maintenance at home easily and efficiently.
This gum maintenance advice is tailored to you, so that it fits your condition, your mouth, and your lifestyle. Our experience in seeing a vast variety of patients means that we know how to work with shift workers who are brushing at odd times, people suffering from hand arthritis and are not able to floss, and the average joe who may be just a little lazy for dental and gum maintenance.
Our goal is to help you care for your gums and teeth, so that you can enjoy your food and your smile, and hopefully spend less time in the dental chair.
