A Checklist For Gum Disease From Your Bedford Hygienist
Spotting symptoms of gingivitis early for prompt treatment.
As we have mentioned in earlier blogs, gum disease is a major cause of tooth loss in the UK. If not detected in its earlier stages, treatment for advanced gum disease can be very invasive and may not be sufficient to prevent at least some tooth loss if the problem becomes significant.
With this in mind, it is advisable to monitor your gum health at home and take action if you have concerns. Whilst some gum disease symptoms are ‘silent’, there are a number of things to look for which may indicate gum health issues.
● Gums that are very sensitive, red, or appear swollen
● Bleeding whilst brushing your teeth
● Receding gums
● Persistent bad breath which is not directly caused by something you have eaten or drunk
● Loose or wobbly teeth
● A noticeable change in your bite
● Sores in the mouth
These are some of the more common symptoms that can appear when gum disease is present, and, if you notice any of these, you should make an appointment at The Dental Centre Bedford as soon as you can, in order to start receiving treatment.
Maintaining healthy gums
The key to having healthy gums is to prevent the problem from arising in the first instance and this can be helped significantly by maintaining good personal oral health care. This involves cleaning your teeth well, at least twice a day, plus some form of inter dental cleaning.
Inter dental brushes are growing in popularity and can be purchased at our Bedford practice. Dental floss though, is still an effective tool in the fight against gum disease if used correctly. Rather than using a ‘sawing’ motion, which many people seem to do, a gentle side to side movement is effective in removing tiny food particles and bacteria from between the teeth. Our friendly hygienist will show you exactly how to do this to best effect.
However, even with an efficient personal care regimen such as this, it is still important to keep up with your Bedford dentist and hygienist appointments to help ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy.
Hygienist
Some gingival bacteria can find its way into small areas of our teeth and gums where it can be very difficult to remove by brushing and flossing; the very rear of a back tooth being an obvious example. Over time, this bacteria hardens and takes the form of tartar which is almost impossible to remove yourself.
Regular hygienist appointments are the best way to ensure that your mouth is as healthy as can be. A scale and polish can be used to removed the hardened bacterial deposits and to give your teeth a thorough clean with a high speed brush. This not only helps to remove any remaining plaque and tartar but may also make your teeth a little whiter by removing surface staining.
To make sure that your mouth is healthy and gum disease free, we wholeheartedly recommend booking in with us for an appointment. You can reach our experienced Bedford dentists and hygienists today on 01234 819868.