GUM DISEASE & DENTAL DECAY IN LEICESTER

Many people suffer from gum disease, which is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. However the disease progresses very slowly in most cases and with appropriate treatment, it can be arrested or slowed down so that you do not need to lose your teeth.

In gingivitis the gums around the teeth become very red, swollen & inflamed. They will frequently bleed when they are brushed during cleaning. The earliest signs of gum disease are usually blood on your toothbrush or in the water when rinsing your mouth after cleaning your teeth. Bleeding from the gums can also occur when eating, although you are unlikely to experience any pain or discomfort. You may also notice an unpleasant taste in your mouth or bad breath as a result of any bleeding. Over time, gingivitis can develop into periodontal disease. When this happens the bone supporting the teeth is destroyed, making the teeth loose. You may also begin to experience abscesses with pus oozing out of pockets around the teeth. Eventually, if the condition is not treated, the teeth will fall out or need to be extracted. 

 

Both types of gum disease are caused by plaque, which is the film of bacteria that builds up on your teeth. In order to prevent and treat gum disease, it is essential that all of this plaque is removed from your teeth at least twice a day. This means you not only need to brush your teeth, but also clean in between them using floss or "interdental brushes".

Smoking is a major risk factor for gum disease. People who smoke not only have more plaque and other deposits on their teeth but the smoking also affects the immune response so that the tissues do not heal as well. Treatment involves the dental team removing all of the plaque and tartar (hardened plaque) from your teeth. You will also be advised on how best to clean your teeth to ensure that more plaque does not build up on your teeth. Good oral hygiene and effective cleaning is the most important thing you can do to prevent gum disease. If you smoke you will also be advised to stop and can be supported by referral to smoking cessation services.

It may be necessary to carry a procedure known as root planing. The aim of this is to remove the plaque from below the gum line where it has built up on the roots of your teeth. This can be uncomfortable so root planing is normally done under a local anaesthetic. You should expect your gums & teeth to feel sore for about 48 hours afterwards. Periodontal disease is not curable but it can be controlled providing you maintain good oral hygiene. You need to ensure you clean your teeth thoroughly every day and visit your dentist for regular check-ups. If you can do this there is every chance that the progress of the disease will be halted or slowed to the point where you will not experience any problems.

Dental decay is caused by plaque acids that gradually damages your teeth and may lead to the tooth needing to be filled or even taken out. Dental decay occurs when acids produced by dental plaque (bacteria in the mouth) after you have eaten or drunk anything containing sugars dissolve the enamel (the hard, protective outer coating of the tooth) and dentine (dentine lies under the enamel, it can be very sensitive to pain). Over time, the acid makes a cavity (hole) in the tooth.

The sugars in food and drinks react with the bacteria in plaque, forming acids. Every time you eat or drink anything containing sugars, these acids attack the teeth and start to soften and dissolve the enamel. The attacks can last for an hour after eating or drinking, before the natural salts in your saliva cause the enamel to ‘remineralise' and harden again. It's not just sugars that are harmful: other types of carbohydrate foods and drinks react with plaque and form acids. (These are the ‘fermentable' carbohydrates: for example ‘hidden sugars' in processed food, natural sugars like those in fruit and cooked starches).

Having sugary or acidic snacks and drinks between meals can increase the risk of decay, because your teeth come under constant attack and do not have time to recover. It is therefore important not to keep having sugary snacks or sipping sugary drinks throughout the day. In the early stages of dental decay there are no symptoms, but your dental team may be able to spot a cavity in its early stages when they examine or X-ray your teeth. This is why you should visit your dental team regularly, as small cavities are much easier to treat than advanced decay. Once the cavity has reached the dentine your tooth may become sensitive, particularly when you have sweet foods and drinks, and acidic or hot foods.

As the decay gets near the dental pulp (soft tissue which contains blood vessels and nerves and is in the middle of the tooth) you may suffer from toothache. If the toothache is brought on by hot or sweet foods this may last for only a few seconds. As the decay gets closer to the dental pulp the pain may last longer and you may need to take painkillers to control the pain. You must visit your dental team straight away as the tooth is dying, and you may develop a dental abscess if it is not treated.

The best way to prevent dental decay is by brushing your teeth thoroughly last thing at night and at least one other time during the day, with a fluoride toothpaste. Make sure that you brush the inner, outer and biting surfaces of your teeth. Using ‘interdental' brushes, or dental floss or tape, also helps to remove plaque and food from between your teeth and where they meet the gums. These are areas an ordinary toothbrush can't reach. Visit your dental team regularly, as often as they recommend. Have sugary and acidic food and drinks less often. Avoid having snacks between meals, to limit the number of times your teeth are under attack from acids. Call The Whitehouse Surgery in Leicester today to find out more.