Gum Disease

Gum disease or periodontal disease in the main cause for tooth loss in adults.

A majority of people suffer from gum disease at some stage in their life. If your gums are red, inflamed or bleed when brushing you teeth, this is a sign of gingivitis which is an early stage of gum disease.

If gingivitis is left untreated it may progress to more serious stages of periodontal disease which may result in gum and bone loss. The tooth will no longer have strong support and will become wobbly and may have to be extracted.

Plaque is the cause of gum disease, this is why it is so important to maintain a high standard of oral hygiene. Regularly brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouth wash can help prevent plaque build up. If not plaque will turn into calculus (sometimes called tartar) which bonds to the tooth so strongly that is can only be removed by your dentist.

It is important to treat gum disease immediately as it will result in tooth loss if ignored. Regular visits to the dentist will help prevent or control gum plaque and calculus build up and consequently prevent gum disease.