Gum Disease

Maintaining healthy gums is an important part of achieving optimal dental health. Apart from causing bad breath and red, swollen or bleeding gums, gum disease can lead to tooth loss and a variety of other health problems. If we can detect and treat gum diseases early on, we can maintain the appearance of your smile and ensure continued oral health.

At Zen Smiles, we want to make sure our patients have optimal oral health. To achieve this, every patient is treated based on what they need.

The most common problem is gum disease. The mildest form of periodontal or gum disease is called gingivitis. It causes the gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. There is usually little or no discomfort at this stage. Gingivitis is often caused by inadequate oral hygiene and it is reversible with good oral home care and professional treatment by a dentist and hygienist, that may include dental cleanings every 3, 4 or up to 6 months.

Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque and calculus (tartar) can spread and grow below the gum line. Toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response and the tissues and bone that support the teeth begin to break down. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. Eventually, teeth can become loose and may have to be removed.

Courtesy of Guru Dental Education