Authored by
DR. AMRUTA DASH
MDS (Periodontics)
Consultant Periodontist & Implantologist
Are your Gums Healthy?
Periodontitis (Per-e-o-don-TIE-tis), is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue. Without treatment, it can destroy the bone that supports your teeth and cause teeth to loosen or lead to tooth loss.
Periodontitis is usually the result of poor oral hygiene and is very common but largely preventable.
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing daily and getting regular dental checkups can greatly improve your chances of successful treatment for periodontitis and can also reduce your chance of developing it.
+ What are the Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease?
Healthy gums are firm and Pale Pink and fit snugly around teeth. Signs and Symptoms of Periodontitis includes
- Swollen Or Puffy Gums
- Bright Red, Dusky Red Or Purplish Gums
- Gums That Feel Tender When Touched
- Gums That Bleed Easily
- Pink-tinged Toothbrush After Brushing
- Spitting Out Blood When Brushing Or Flossing Your Teeth
- Bad Breath
- Pus Between Your Teeth And Gums
- Loose Teeth Or Loss Of Teeth
- Painful Chewing
- New Spaces Developing Between Your Teeth
- Gums That Pull Away From Your Teeth (Recede), Making Your Teeth Look Longer Than Normal
- A Change In The Way Your Teeth Fit Together When You Bite
+ How to Prevent Gum Issues?
The best way to prevent any gum issue is to follow a good oral hygiene routine that you begin early and practice consistently throughout life.
1. Good Oral Hygiene.
That means brushing your teeth for two minutes at least twice daily in the morning and before going to bed. Flossing at least once a day before you brush allows you to clean away the loosened food particles and bacteria. Good Oral Hygiene prevents the development of an environment around your teeth that is favorable to specific bacteria that cause Periodontal Disease.
2. Regular Dental Visits
See your Dentist regularly for cleanings, usually every six to 12 months. If you have risk factors that increase your chance of developing periodontitis, such as having dry mouth, taking certain medications or smoking you may need professional cleaning more often.
3. Professional Cleaning
During a professional cleaning, your dentist will remove plaque buildup and tartar from your teeth and their roots, and then polish your teeth and treat them with fluoride. Any Periodontal pockets that have formed could require deep cleaning to enable healing. A deep-cleaning method called Scaling and Root Planing will help scrape off tartar and also remove any rough spots on the tooth root where bacteria tend to gather.
