What’s gum disease?
It’s inflammation of the gum that can potentially affect the supporting bone and fibres. There are three stages of gum disease:
Stage 1. Gingivitis: Inflammation of the gums caused by plaque build-up on the gum line.
Stage 2. Periodontitis: The bone that supports your teeth becomes irreversibly damaged.
Stage 3. Advanced Periodontitis: The fibres and bone supporting your teeth become destroyed, which can cause your teeth to loosen and fall out.
What causes gum disease?
It’s the bacteria within plaque that causes gum infection. Plaque is a sticky white film that’s constantly forming on your teeth. Your immune system will try and remove the bacteria by releasing substances that inflame and damage the gums – that’s why daily brushing and flossing is so important. Other factors that can increase your risk of infection include:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Certain medications
- Pregnancy or use of oral contraception
- Poor diet.
Remember to always update your dentist on any health or medication changes.
Signs and symptoms
What you need to be aware of:
- Gums bleed easily when brushing or flossing
- Swollen, red or sensitive gums
- Receding gums
- Teeth becoming loose
- Bad breath.
Treatment
Visiting your Health Partners Dentist is the only way to properly treat and remove the infection.
Prevention
Proper and regular dental care is your best form of defence against gum disease.
- Brush twice daily with a soft toothbrush
- Floss daily
- Visit the dentist regularly.
Posted: Jan 19 2021
Disclaimer
The information contained here is of a general nature and does not take into account your personal medical situation. The information is not a substitute for independent professional medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or used for therapeutic purposes. Should you require specific medical information, please seek advice from your healthcare practitioner. Health Partners does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on the information provided.
While we have prepared the information carefully, we can’t guarantee that it is accurate, complete or up-to-date. And while we may mention goods or services provided by others, we aren’t specifically endorsing them and can’t accept responsibility for them.
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Health Partners is committed to providing quality and affordable health care, and we value our members and our obligation to protect your privacy. As part of our responsibility in protecting your privacy, from time to time we review our policies to ensure we are meeting our obligations. We have recently made some updates to our Privacy Policy. Please click here to view the Health Partners Privacy Policy.
© Copyright Health Partners. 2024 All Rights Reserved.
Health Partners is committed to providing quality and affordable health care, and we value our members and our obligation to protect your privacy. As part of our responsibility in protecting your privacy, from time to time we review our policies to ensure we are meeting our obligations. We have recently made some updates to our Privacy Policy. Please click here to view the Health Partners Privacy Policy.