This disease affects people of all ages. Periodontal is also referred to gum disease. Generally it is an infection of the tissues and bones that support the entire network of teeth. If this disease is not treated it can become so serious causing the teeth to become loose and hence they will gradually fall out.
This disease is often caused by the buildup of plague, which is an accumulation of germs which form around the teeth and gums. The plague consists of bacteria which produces toxins that damage the gums.
There are several hundreds of bacteria which live in our mouth. Hence we battle every time by brushing, flossing our teeth and also visiting your London dentist regularly in order to fight these germs.
Gingivitis and Periodontitis are the gum diseases which are often known as serious infections.
Gingivitis - It is often known as the mildest form of gum disease and it causes the gums to be come red and swollen. The gums become very week and at times they bleed. This disease is often caused by lack of oral hygiene.
Periodontitis - is known as the advance stage of gingivitis. The plague spreads and grows below the gum. The bacteria produced causes discomfort to the gums. The gums begin to separate from the teeth since the tissues and bones that support the teeth will be destroyed.
There are several forms of Periodontitis and the commons ones are Aggressive Periodontitis, Chronic Periodontitis, Periodontitis as a manifestation of systemic diseases, Necrotizing periodontal disease.
The symptoms of gum disease are that gums start to bleed whilst sleeping or brushing your teeth. Gums begin to turn red and become swollen.
This disease can be cured by the use of professional treatment or oral home care that includes healthy eating, flossing and brushing of teeth regularly.

Dental floss is a man-made fibre, usually nylon and comes on a spool. It is inexpensive, ready to use and always available in the market. Dental floss is used in cleaning the crevices between the teeth and below the gum line where bristles of ordinary toothbrush can’t reach. It mechanically removes the bacteria that build up on our teeth and gums. Brushing alone cannot remove these bacteria. If the bacteria are not removed, they turn into plaque. Afterwards, the plaque will then turn into a hard substance that is commonly known as tartar. This will lead to the growth of more dangerous types of bacteria that produce toxins which is harmful to our bodies. The toxins will irritate the gums and can lead to gingivitis or inflammation. It will then result to Periodontal Disease wherein the toxins harm the gums and the bones that support the teeth and lead to tooth loss.
Dental flossing can also eliminate bad breath. It prevents the bacteria from breaking down food particles left in the mouth and turning it into volatile sulphur compounds that cause bad breath.
When flossing, use about 18 inches of floss. Wind some of it around one of your middle finger and the rest around the other middle finger. Use the thumb and forefinger of each hand in grasping the floss and leave an inch of floss between the two hands. Insert the floss in-between teeth. When the floss reaches the gum flap, gently slide it into the space between the tooth and the gum. Scrape up and down along the side of the tooth. Repeat five to six times. Do the same on the adjacent tooth. Repeat the procedure on the rest of the teeth. Turn each middle finger to use a fresh section of the floss. Don’t forget to gargle with water after flossing.
Dental flossing is easy… Try to make it a habit for an odour free healthy smile!

Gingivitis can be defined as an inflammation of the gums and is also considered to be initial stage of the gum disease. The soft, sticky and colorless film of bacteria, known as plaque, is the main causative factor of gingivitis. Such plaque daily forms on the teeth as well as gum and by regular tooth brushing we generally remove this. If plaque remains on its site, it then produces some toxins that irritate the gums and cause gingivitis.Other causes of gingivitis include trauma to the gums, uncontrolled diabetes, pregnancy and poor dental hygiene. If gingivitis is not treated properly, it turns to periodontitis that can damage the teeth and its surrounding structure permanently.

The options for gingivitis treatment in London are plenty. There are many dental clinics run by professional and skilled dentists offering effective treatment for gingivitis that begin with initial cleaning, scaling and curettage. You are also advised to maintain oral hygiene by brushing teeth with proper toothpaste and toothbrush. However, in some advanced case, where the surgery is required, dentists may reduce deep pockets that remain underneath the gum. This is generally followed by low dose oral and/or topical antibiotics for certain period.

Once your fist sitting is over, you may need to visit dentist for follow-ups for gingivitis treatment in London for local oral examination and also in order to prevent recurrence of the disease. You also require regular cleanings every three months that may last 45 minutes to an hour.

Most of us, at least once in our lifetime would have experienced bleeding while brushing. Don’t worry, you are just one among millions who are affected with this extremely common disease, particularly those living in London. This is the commonest gum disease affecting all age groups irrespective of their gender or general health condition and the easiest one to cure, if properly taken care of. Gingivitis is the inflammation of gums that generally presents with soft puffy gums bleeding easily on slightest pressure. If you examine a healthy gum, it has a pale pink appearance and is firm to touch. Hence, if you experience any such symptoms, don’t hesitate to visit your dentist as soon as possible; because if not treated, this early stage can progress to more complicated other conditions such as periodontitis, abscess in teeth, loss of teeth, etc. Gingivitis can develop without you being noticing any of the symptoms because in early-stage, the disease is painless. The condition is caused by multiplication of bacteria, which colonise in between the gums and teeth. The forerunner of all gum diseases is formation of plaque that develops on the gumline of your teeth as a sticky thin coating. This coating is formed from the interaction between oral bacteria and sugars and starch in food. When we brush our teeth, it is removed but forms again and if it stays there for long, develops into tartar, which is much harder and are not removed by brushing or flossing. So the important thing we have to remember is the regular cleaning or brushing after each meal if possible or at least twice daily. Though plaques are the major cause of gingivitis by acting as the reservoir of bacteria, there are some other causes too. They are other health conditions such as leukaemia autoimmune diseases, pemphigus, diabetes, etc., use of some drugs such as antidepressants, antiseizure medications, and immunosuppressants, and smoking tobacco are some to mention. Sometimes viruses or fungi can also cause this condition. Hormone changes have some effect in producing this condition. Nutritional status of an individual has a major role to play in maintaining the health of the gums. Therefore, you have to ensure an adequate intake of vitamin B, C, and D while undergoing treatment for gum diseases.

People of London are health conscious and do give importance to health checkups, but when it comes to minor dental problems, we just don’t remember to keep our appointment with our dentist. So, don’t wait for a bloody spongy gum to remind us of our next appointment to professionally clean our teeth, free of plaques and tartar.