Don’t Ignore Bleeding Gums!
It may be just one of the many possible symptoms of gum disease
It can be all too easy to put it down to ‘just one of those things’ if you notice that your gums bleed when you brush your teeth. If it only happens once, you may possibly be right and you could have scratched a gum for example. Even so, you should still have it checked by a dentist and especially if the problem continues, to prevent things from becoming much worse.
Bleeding gums is just one of the possible symptoms of gum disease, a problem which can sometimes be underestimated with regards to the harm it can do. Although it is not an uncommon problem and can usually be managed with improved care, if it is allowed to advance, it can become very uncomfortable and unpleasant. It can also result in your teeth becoming loose or even falling out in some instances.
Symptoms of gum disease
Bleeding gums is one of the better known symptoms but it is not the only one to look out for. Others to watch out for include:
- Inflammation of the gums
- Soreness of the gums
- Bad breath/Halitosis
- Pus between the gums
- Receding gum line
- Difficulty chewing
This is not a comprehensive list and many other symptoms can occur. If you are in any doubt at all, please have your gums checked at your local Ipswich dental practice to be on the safe side.
A silent disease
Although symptoms are quite common when you have this disease, it can also occur without any obvious symptoms. Even if this is the case, the same degree of damage can be caused so it is important for you to have both a dental check up and to be seen by the hygienist at the Foxhall Dental Practice every six months or so. This, combined with good home oral care should be sufficient to prevent it from becoming a more serious issue. Some patients, such as smokers and diabetics, may be at a much higher risk of gum disease and it may be necessary to shorten the time between your appointments in order to monitor it more closely.
Taking care at home
The bedrock of good oral care is a combination of brushing your teeth well and using dental floss. Naturally, what you eat can make a difference too and a good tooth friendly diet can make a real difference. Minimise the amount of sugars that you consume and also drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration as bacteria grow much faster in a dry mouth.
Your toothbrush should be no more than 3 months old and not have worn bristles as this will be less effective. If yours is looking a bit ‘tatty’, it is definitely time to replace it. Flossing can be a bit of a challenge for some people but it is quite straightforward to do, and once you have managed to learn how to do it correctly, it is a great way to help keep your gums healthy in just a few minutes each day.
Dental hygienist appointments
You should always have a professional clean from the dental hygienist every six months. This helps to remove the hard crust that forms on the teeth and gum line called ‘tartar’. You can’t remove this by brushing at home and a scale and polish will be necessary and will remove the harmful bacteria and leave you with a noticeably fresher mouth. You might also notice an improvement in the colour of your teeth as the treatment can also remove some surface staining. For a really effective teeth whitening experience though, you should consult one of our cosmetic dentists who will be able to advise you of the best treatment path to take.
Gum disease is definitely manageable as long as you follow this advice. If you fail to do so, the chances are that early stage gum disease (gingivitis) will develop further into periodontitis. This attacks the supporting bone and ligaments that hold the teeth in place and this is much harder to treat and requires an invasive procedure known as root planing or a ‘deep clean’. If this treatment is not successful you may find that you are soon looking at your options to replace missing teeth.
If you have not had a gum health check recently, now is the time to do something about it. If you live in the Ipswich area, why not give the Foxhall Dental Practice a call on 01473 258396. We look forward to helping you improve your gum health.