What Is Periodontics?
Periodontics is the branch of dentistry that focuses on the treatment of periodontal disease, most commonly known as gum disease. Gum disease can be a serious condition that if left untreated, can cause your teeth to eventually start to fall out. The most common signs to look out for are bleeding & sore gums. If you brush too hard during your oral hygiene routine, you can sometimes cause accidental bleeding. If you do experience any bleeding, we do recommend you see your dentist so they can examine if it is gum disease. The earlier gum disease is spotted, the easier and less costly it will be to treat.
How Is Gum Disease Caused?
Every day your teeth and gums will come into contact with lots of bacteria. It is very important that you break up this build up of bacteria with effective brushing and flossing as this can have a positive effect on reducing the chance of gum disease. Another factor that can cause bacteria to build up is trapped food between teeth (especially if its not removed for a while). As the bacteria builds up it wills start to cause inflammation around the gums and cause bleeding. It is recommended that you attend your dentist on a regular basis as well as the hygienist. The dentist will be able to examine your general oral health and identify if you have gum disease or if there is cause for concern (e.g. you haven’t got gum disease, but your teeth could be better looked after). The hygienist will be able to effectively clean the hard to reach places in your mouth and tackle any tough plaque deposits (build up of bacteria).
Advanced Gum Disease
If gum disease is not identified and left untreated, it can develop into a condition known as periodontitis (advanced gum disease). This is when the condition does become quite serious as it can lead to teeth eventually falling out. As the disease attacks your gums, they will start to recede and fade away from your teeth, causing the surrounding teeth to feel loose and start to fall out (worse case scenario). If teeth do fall out, there are suitable replacements such as crowns and dental implants, but the gum disease will always need to be treated first as it can cause implants and restorations to fail.
Book Your Check Up
If you are worried about your teeth and gums and would like to have them checked over to ensure you are not suffering from gum disease, please do not hesitate to call us today and book your appointment.
