Treatments
Gum disease and hygiene
Gum disease is an inflammatory disease that affects the gums and bone around the teeth and is the most common reason for tooth loss. Gums become red, swollen and bleed in the presence of the bacteria in dental plaque. Many people have gum disease which has never been diagnosed or treated. What’s more, gum disease is linked to diabetes and to heart disease
The symptoms of gum (periodontal) disease include:
- Bleeding when brushing or flossing teeth or eating hard food such as an apple
- Red, swollen or painful gums
- Receding gums
- Loose or separating teeth
- Persistent bad breath
- Persistent ‘strange’ taste in the mouth
WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
The most important thing to do is to attend regular check-ups with your dentist. You may also need to see our periodontist, Jason Lim and Tracey, Nick or Sarah, our hygienists, for specific deep cleaning in order to stabilise the health of your gums and for ongoing maintenance.
AIRFLOW
Our hygienists use the Airflow system routinely. Airflow works through the combined power of 3 components, air, water and sodium bicarbonate. Together they form a high powered jet that is not only excellent for stain removal, but also disrupts the biofilm on the teeth, where bacteria breed.
We recommend annual appointments with one of our hygienists to maintain gum health. For those patients with an average risk of gum disease we would suggest 6 monthly appointments, whilst those with a high risk should attend every 3 months. Patients who have had an implant should visit the hygienist every 6 months to ensure that the implant does not fail as the gum around the implant is just as prone to gum disease as if it were a natural tooth.