Healthy Gums - by Ralph Baylis
Healthy gums are the key to healthy teeth. Advanced gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is the leading factor in tooth loss among adults. Our dentist Dr Ralph Baylis has a special interest in treating patients with gum disease, and works closely with our team of hygienists to help all patients maintain good oral hygiene.
Gum disease comes in two forms: gingivitis and periodontitis. The early symptoms of gingivitis are blood on your toothbrush or in the sink when you brush your teeth, gums that bleed when you bite certain foods, swelling, soreness and infection of the gums. You may also experience bad breath or an unpleasant taste in your mouth.
Left untreated, gingivitis can develop into periodontitis. There are a number of types of periodontitis, all of them affecting the tissues surrounding the teeth. You may notice painful abscesses on the gums, with a discharge of pus around your teeth. Over time, the bone surrounding your teeth deteriorates, causing teeth to become loose and eventually fall out.
Screening for gum disease is one of the key points of your routine dental examination. Because in the early stages gum disease does not have a lot of symptoms, it can often go undetected. Your dentist and hygienist will be able to identify early signs of gum disease and treat you appropriately, before it becomes a more serious problem.
Gum disease is caused by bacteria in plaque that builds up on your teeth. At Park Road we have a team of three hygienists, who will thoroughly clean your teeth, providing full mouth scaling and deep scaling where necessary to remove all traces of plaque from your teeth. They will also apply fissure sealant and fluoride treatments as necessary.
Our hygienists will also provide home cleaning advice, as well as advice on diet and other factors that may affect your teeth. As with all conditions, the earlier intervention happens the more successful and easier treatment will be. If you have concerns about your gums, contact the practice to book an appointment today.