Have you noticed bleeding when you brush your teeth? That could be a warning sign that you have gum disease. There may be a milder version of this, often called “gingivitis.” No matter what, as soon as you notice any bleeding, head to the dentist.
Let us inform you of the signs and symptoms that can help you manage the problem sooner, to avoid it becoming more serious and expensive. If left untreated, gum disease can become “periodontitis” which is a more serious gum disease.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Take note of the following signs:
- Red and swollen gums: This is one of the first signs that you are neglecting the health of your gums. You will notice inflammation in the gumline. The gums will feel tender and painful when you brush or floss.
- Bad Breath: When your gums are inflamed and are suffering from gum disease, the bacteria that lives around them changes. The bacteria feed on the plaque and release toxins that irritate the gums and harm the gum/tooth complex. This process causes bad breath.
- Gum Shrinking: Do you think your teeth look longer than they did before? That is because the gums are receding. This could be a sign of gum disease and that you need to find a dentist to help manage the problem.
- Shifting, loose or wobbly teeth: This occurs when the gum disease is bad enough to affect hte bone supporting the teeth. Thankfully at our dental practice in Ilkley, we can help get on top of the problem before the need to remove the teeth.
Getting Treatment in Ilkley
When you visit the dentist, the main goal is to control the gum disease and see how much of the gum and associated teeth are affected. Initial treatment at our dental practice in Ilkley would be a thorough clean, and to advise you on the best techniques on how to brush your teeth to keep them clean and healthy.
What is Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning is not like the regular cleaning, which dentists do at your regular dental hygiene appointment, which mostly cleans above the gum line. Deep cleaning can involve instrumentation below the gums using specific tools.
We also do scaling – Which means scraping off the tartar/calculus that accumulates on the gum line and below it. We may also recommend root planing, to smooth out the rough surfaces of the roots. This helps the gums to reattach with your tooth.
Both procedures would require more than one visit to the dentist.
There are two main types of treatment for gum disease, non-surgical and surgical treatment.
Non-surgical Treatment
- This mainly involves scaling of the teeth and specific advice on cleaning which is personalised to you.
Surgical Treatment for Gum Disease
- Flap Surgery – We surgically lift the gums to remove the tartar that is deeper inside the gum line. Then we stitch the gum back to tighten it to the tooth and prevent more tartar formation.
- Gum Graft Surgery – This is a highly technical and advanced type of procedure. Gum grafts can be taken from other parts of your mouth to cover exposed roots, helping with sensitivity, aesthetics and also can help reduce decay on the root.
If you are in Ilkley, you can always visit our dental practice. Many of our loyal patients recommend our dental practice in Ilkley due to the time taken and genuine care for our patients. To book an appointment please contact us.