Hygiene Centre
Treating Gum Disease
Gum disease can start when you are a child. Chronic periodontitis is normally only a problem for adults. You might be worried about bad breath or your teeth looking longer as the gum covers less of them.
View the scale and polish procedure. Simple and effective way to remove plague and tartar buildup
Bad breath
It is estimated that that a high percentage of people suffer from chronic bad breath. It is an embarrassing problem that can affect your job prospects and personal relationships.
What causes bad breath?
While bad breath originates in the mouth 80% of the time, at other times it is a symptom of underlying disease that needs the earliest possible treatment. Persistent bad breath is usually caused by the smelly gases of the bacteria that coat your teeth and gums. Smoking, garlic and onions can add to the problems. Certain illnesses such as diabetes, liver or kidney problems, nasal or stomach conditions and “dry mouth” (xerostomia) that affects the flow of saliva can be the cause of bad breath. Dental problems account for the majority of breath disorders. These can range from broken, leaking fillings or obvious infections to impacted teeth and calculus build up that can harbour odour-causing bacteria. Bits of food that get caught between the teeth and on the tongue will rot and cause an unpleasant smell.
Is gum disease a factor?
Periodontal, or gum disease, affects the gums and bone supporting your teeth. It is caused by sticky plaque and hard deposits of tartar. It happens when teeth and gums are not kept clean enough. Without regular cleaning the gums will come away from the tooth creating pockets around the teeth where food and plaque can collect. Pockets are difficult to keep clean and gum disease will get worse if treatment is not carried out. The condition may progress to the next stage of the disease which involves loosing the bone that supports the teeth and the teeth may become loose until they eventually have to be taken out. Severe gum disease can be an inherited factor or an indicator of problems with general health. Scientists have discovered that periodontal disease is linked to coronary heart disease and stroke, especially for people who smoke or have high blood pressure.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR BAD BREATH?
Once we have determined the degree and cause of the breath problem, the treatment can take many forms. If medical problems are found to be the underlying cause of bad breath, proper referral will be made. Recommendation will be made by your dentist to correct and treat any dental disease that is directly related to the breath problem or gum disease.
The dentist will monitor and chart the condition of your gums before and after root planing and scaling. They will instruct in the best way to brush your teeth and gums and will advise on best devices and products to use as an effective home care program to destruct the volatile sulfur gases.
Who can suffer from gum disease?
Some people are more likely to have periodontal disease than others:
- Crooked teeth are more difficult to keep clean so you might have gum disease in just one part of your mouth.
- People have different bacteria in their mouths. This may explain why gum disease can get worse very quickly for some people but not for others.
- Smoking and drinking a lot of alcohol can make gum disease worse. Both are also linked with mouth cancer.
- Drugs and medicines can affect your gums so your dentist will ask you about your general health.
- Diabetes and some other diseases can reduce how resistant gums and bones are to damage.
- Hormonal changes can also affect gum health. It could make a difference if you are pregnant or using an oral contraceptive.