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Gum disease - what to do

A regular visit to a dentist will help you with:

• Prevention of gum disease - early detection is vital and avoids later more complicated and expensive treatment.

• Clean teeth - the hygienist will properly clean and free teeth from plaque and tartar build up

• Minor infections can be identified and treated before they become overly problematic

What is a gum disease?

Gum disease is also called periodontal disease. It occurs when food particles get caught between the teeth and bacteria forms and causes an infection in the gums. It may start with a small pain or sensitivity in the gums, and if not treated can become a much more painful infection. Simple gum disease is not limited to the mouth only. It can lead to many other severe diseases like cancer, diabetes and digestive system problems.

Symptoms

These are the most widely observed symptoms when one suffers from periodontal disease:

• Painful and bleeding gums

• Tooth loss because the gum loses its strength

• Flossing and brushing gets hard because the gums bleed

• Sores in the mouth

• Swelling of the gums

• Halitosis (bad breath)

Causes

Periodontal disease is caused by improper oral care. Similarly, oral hygiene and general health and wellbeing also suffers when you are careless about it.

A few widespread causes of gum disease are:

• Improper technique or irregular brushing

• Not flossing well or often enough

• Smoking

• Large scale alcohol consumption

Basically gums are affected when you do not brush your teeth properly. When the food is eaten, the small particles get stuck in the gaps between the teeth. When you don't floss, they remain there. This leads to the formation of the bacteria between the teeth. The bacteria will corrode the teeth and affect the gums.

Prevention and precautions

There are lots of ways to prevent gum disease.

· Inter dental cleaners have small bristles which are best to remove away the plague from the teeth gap. They are somewhat like a toothbrush in structure and work in a similar way between teeth.

• Eat a healthy diet. Try to lessen the intake of sugary food and drinks. They are really harmful for the teeth and oral health.

• Cut down or quit smoking. This will benefit oral health and general overall wellbeing.

• Brush and floss regularly after each meal or at least twice a day.

• Visit the dentist regularly, 6 monthly is recommended, as this is the best option.