Healthy gum should be pink, firm and be able to keep your pearly whites securely in place. If you find that your gums have started to bleed when they are touched or brush then it is time to find yourself a best dentist London. As gum disease can often be silent and not cause its host any pains it can be very difficult determining whether you are suffering from it or not. A large majority of adults within the UK do suffer from various degrees of gum disease, and many people at least once in their lifetime have it, although it is far less common in children.
Causes
If you have a build-up of plaque on your teeth this can then lead to gum disease. Plaque is a sticky substance usually white in colour that contains bacteria. A few varieties of bacteria in plaque are perfectly harmless; however there are some that can be harmful to your gums. If you do not remove the plaque via brushing your teeth thoroughly twice a day then it can build up and irrigate your healthy pink gums. This then leads to redness, with the occurrence of bleeding swelling and soreness.
Symptoms
There are various stages to gum disease, the symptoms for the first stages include; red and swollen gums as well as bleeding gums once you have brushed or flossed your teeth. If gum disease goes untreated, the tissues and bone that support the teeth can then become affected as well, which is known as periodontitis. Advanced symptoms can include bad breath, a disgusting taste in your mouth, loose teeth, and excessive amounts of saliva, difficulty swallowing and fevers breaking out.
Prevention & Treatment
If you have early stages of gum disease then this can generally be treated by maintaining a good level of oral hygiene consistently. Which means you will need to brush your teeth at least twice a day and include regular flossing into your routine. Another way to ensure you have a good level of oral hygiene is to ensure you have dental check-ups regularly. If you visit the dentist they will be able to give your teeth a thorough clean and remove any hardened plaque they may have occurred over time. However if you are suffering from advanced or severe gum then disease then do not ignore the signs. You will need to have medical and dental treatment, and in some instance you may be required to have surgery.
Dental Check Ups
For adults and children alike it is important to upkeep a high standard of oral hygiene. To do this as well as brushing your teeth at least twice a day, you need to visit the dentist. If you have had problems with gum disease in the past or are currently suffering from it you may need to visit the dentist more frequently, but your dentist will be able to advise you on how many appointments you should have throughout the year.