Gum Disease
Gum disease also known as periodontal disease.
Gum disease also known as periodontal disease
Periodontal Disease is a common infection which leads to the inflammation of the gums which consequently destroys the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth. The most common form of gum disease is gingivitis and a less common but prevalent condition in older adults is periodontitis. Gum disease is treatable and can be prevented by maintaining good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups.
Difference between Gingivitis and Periodontitis?
Gingivitis is a much milder case of gum inflammation and with improved oral health habits can be treated at home. However, if gingivitis is left untreated it can lead to a much more severe inflammation of the gum known as periodontitis. It is not necessary that periodontitis develops after gingivitis but may occur as a result of smoking and poor oral hygiene.
Causes
Our mouths are full of bacteria, mucus and other particles. Together these form plaque, which is a sticky substance that sticks to your teeth. This plaque can harden to become tartar/calculus if we don’t brush and floss regularly. This calculus acts as a base for bacteria, which means the bacteria is more prevalent around the gum area leading to damage of the gum tissue. The gums begin to pull away from your teeth and form empty spaces. These empty spaces also known as pockets have bacteria inside them and as a result become infected. If left untreated this can lead to the connective tissue and bone supporting your teeth to break down. This will cause your teeth to become loose and eventually lead you to get them extracted.
Symptoms
Symptoms that indicate periodontal or gum disease include:
- Bad breath
- Receding gums
- Gaps forming between your teeth
- Teeth getting loose on their own
- Tenderness in the gums
- Pus in between the teeth
Risk Factors The following factors increase your risk of developing gum disease:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Pregnancy
- Medication
- Genes
- Poor oral health
Treatment
As gum disease develops plaque begins to form under the gum line. This plaque can not be removed by yourself and needs to be removed by a dentist using a cleaning method called scaling. Scaling essentially scrapes off the plaque from below and above your gum line to remove the bacteria causing the infection.
Broken Tooth
Bruxism
Bruxism is characterised by the clenching/grinding of the teeth due to repetitive jaw-muscle activity
Cracked Tooth Syndrome
A broken tooth that doesn’t necessarily look broken.
Crowded Teeth
Dead Tooth
It may surprise you, but teeth do actually have living tissues.
Dental Anxiety
Dental Erosion
Dental erosion can be defined as the irreversible loss of tooth enamel caused by acids without involving bacteria.
Dry Socket
Dry socket also known as Alveolar Osteitis, is a common complication associated with tooth extractions.
Failing Old Silver Filling
Older filling also known as amalgam filling, have been used over years and are still being used today.
Gingivitis
In simpler terms, it is an inflammatory disease of the gingiva.
Gum Disease
Gum Recession
Gum recession occurs when the tissues around the teeth start to recede/pull back.
Halitosis
Halitosis is an unpleasant odour emitted from the mouth.
Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Third molars, commonly known as wisdom teeth, are located at the back of the mouth
Missing Teeth
Sensitive Teeth
A common dental condition that involves discomfort and pain when exposed to certain foods and temperatures.
Snoring
A partially obstructed airway during sleep causes parts of the throat or nose to vibrate as the air passes through a narrowed airway.
TMJ Dysfunction
Temporomandibular joint dysfunctions are a group of disorders affecting the masticatory system.
Tooth Brush Abrasion
Tooth brush abrasion is the most common cause of dental abrasion.
Tooth Decay
Toothache
Toothache, or dental pain, is the most frequent oral pathology
Yellow / Discoloured Teeth
Tooth discoloration/yellow tooth is an abnormal colour of the tooth, is one of the common dental conditions for any age grouped people.
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