Gum disease, otherwise known, as gingivitis is a form of periodontal disease, which is an inflammation and infection that destroys the tissues that support the teeth, including the gums.
Many adults suffer from this disease, the onset of which normally occurs around the ages of 30-40 years. It is reported that around 70% of adults will suffer from gum disease at some point in their lives. That’s a lot! So how do you know if you have gum disease?
There are a number of symptoms; the major ones being:
- Bleeding gums (especially during or after brushing)
- Swollen or tender gums
- Chronic bad breath
- Receding gums
- Sensitive teeth
There are many different reasons for the cause of gum disease; the primary ones being:
- Poor dental hygiene
- Hormonal factors
- Smoking
- Medications
- Genetic predisposition
So, with this in mind, and given the alarming statistics, it is important to know how to avoid getting gum disease.
If you suspect you have gum disease, we recommend visiting a periodontist. They will be able to recommend the best course of treatment and offer a prevention plan to help you avoid this in the future. If you are based in North London, we suggest visiting Al-Fa Perio. Their specialist team provides effective laser gum treatments and have done since 2004.
Steps to Avoid Gum Disease
If you don’t want bad breath, swollen gums, or sensitive teeth, and want to reduce your chances of losing your teeth as a result of gum disease, there are some steps that you can take to avoid getting gum disease. By looking at the primary causes of gum disease one can start to prevent the onset of it with some simple steps.
The most obvious and simplest tip to prevent gum disease is to make sure that you have adequate dental hygiene.
I’m not sure about you but I hated brushing my teeth as a kid. It just seemed to take up too much time; time I would rather have spent, playing or watching TV. Needless to say I have become one of the 70% statistics. Poor dental hygiene is a key reason I developed gum disease. But brushing your teeth is just the basics. There is much more that can be done.