Let's talk about gums

 

Dental Health Week is the Australian Dental Association's annual awareness week highlighting the importance of oral health care. This year, the ADA is putting the spotlight on gum health because without healthy gums, you cannot have a healthy mouth.

Many diseases can affect the gums. These are called periodontal diseases. The most common diseases are gingivitis and periodontitis.


This video explains how gum disease develops.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the mildest type of gum disease. It is also the most common.
The gums can get inflamed when bacteria builds-up where the teeth and gums meet. Common signs of gingivitis are:

  • redness

  • swelling

  • bleeding

Sometimes it can cause discomfort. It can also lead to more serious problems.

You can treat gingivitis with professional teeth cleaning and taking good care of your teeth at home. It is important to visit your dentist if your gums bleed when you are cleaning your teeth or eating. Your dentist will check the cause of the bleeding.

Learn more by listening to gum disease specialist (periodontist) Dr Wendy Gill talk about gingivitis on the Watch Your Mouth podcast. 

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Bleeding gums are a red flag

It is important to not ignore bleeding gums. Your dentist can help you to find the cause of your bleeding gums and how to treat them. It is important to take action because healthy gums do not bleed. 

Periodontitis

Periodontitis is caused by bacteria that can cause damage the gums and bone that hold the teeth in place. This damage makes spaces under the gums around the teeth. These spaces are called pockets and bacteria can collect here.

Factors that can increase your risk of periodontitis include:

Periodontitis does not usually cause pain. Common signs of the disease include:

  • gums pull back making the teeth look longer

  • loose teeth

  • teeth moving.

If periodontitis is not treated, you can lose some or all of your teeth. Treatment by a dental practitioner is needed to stop the disease from getting worse. 

Learn more by listening to gum disease specialist (periodontist) Dr Wendy Gill talk about periodontitis on the Watch Your Mouth podcast. 

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Are you due for a dental check-up?

Find an ADA member dentist using the ADA’s Find-A-Dentist search engine. 

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