What is Periodontal Disease?

It’s important to maintain good oral health and hygiene practices. Part of this is scheduling in a regular appointment with your dentist. A healthy mouth is a happy mouth, and your dentist can help provide you with the maintenance and treatments necessary to combat nasty diseases. One common issue that people deal with is periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is another name for gum disease and it’s characterised by symptoms like swollen gums and bleeding around the teeth. People of all ages can experience this, but it’s easily treatable and simple to avoid. The team at Ipswich Family Dental Practice offers treatment for children as well as adults when it comes to combating gum disease, and you can learn more about their services here.  

Symptoms to Look Out For

There are a few symptoms you should look out for if you think you or a loved one may be suffering from periodontal disease. Normal, healthy gums are light pink and fit around your teeth. If you’re experiencing periodontal disease, you may have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Swollen gums
• Bright red or purple-tinted gums
• Gums that are tender to the touch
• Bleeding gums
• Gums that pull away from the teeth, making your teeth look longer than normal
• Spaces between teeth that previously weren’t there
• Pus between teeth and gums
• Bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Painful chewing
• Your bite has shifted, your teeth have moved, or spaces have formed.

 

Causes to be Aware Of

Bacteria that is found in plaque is the root cause for periodontal disease. Your immune system tries to rid your teeth of the bacteria by releasing gum-damaging substances. The build-up of bacteria can be caused by a number of common problems that can be easily avoided and dealt with. These causes include:

• Not brushing and flossing your teeth every day
• Avoiding professional cleanings
• Smoking and tobacco use
• Misaligned teeth or unclean braces and bridgework
• Stress that weakens your body’s immune system
• Medicines such as phenytoin, cyclosporine, and nifedipine
• Poor nutrition

 

Treatments to Seek Out

Depending on the severity of your periodontal disease, there may be different treatments suggested. It’s important to keep up with oral hygiene if you’re prone to gum disease, and mouth wash can be an excellent defence against it. If you suffer from a more severe case of periodontal disease, your dentist can perform a scale and polish to remove plaque that has built up over time. Root planing is a deep cleaning option is used in more developed cases to get under the gums. It’s always best to ask your dentist if you’re unsure of what treatment options you should be seeking out. Each case is unique.  

Treat Periodontal Disease at Ipswich Family Dental Practice

If you have any oral health concerns or would like to learn more about symptoms, causes, and treatments for periodontal disease, call Ipswich Family Dental Practice on 07 3281 1781 or book an appointment online.