Gum Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

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Sometimes, over-zealous brushing of teeth results in bleeding gums, but it usually stops. However, if gums bleed for no apparent reason and they feel sore, then it could be a sign of gum disease. The mildest form of this disease is known as gingivitis, usually caused by poor dental hygiene; the most serious form is called periodontal disease.

Gum disease, causes
Poor dental hygiene is not simply forgetting to brush one's teeth; it can be that the brushing is inaccurate, or that teeth are awkwardly shaped, need flossing and a tooth brush is not enough. The main culprit in gum disease is plaque, the sticky colorless film that always forms on teeth; the problem is that it contains bacteria. Plaque gets under the gum line and toxins in the bacteria irritate the gums, causing inflammation, and the body’s own defense mechanism reacts to attack the intruder. This leads to the tissues and bone supporting the teeth breaking down. It is not always painful, beyond some soreness and occasional bleeding, but the damage can be significant. The plaque will eventually harden to calculus (tartar) which cannot be removed by brushing alone. If this develops into full blown periodontal disease, teeth loosen and may fall out, but, more worryingly, the final outcome could be a heart attack, stroke or respiratory diseases. Contributing factors to gum disease are smoking, and diabetes, but the guilty party is always plaque.

Gum disease, symptoms
Even if infrequent; bleeding gums are an alert that not all is well. Gums may be slightly swollen or sore but then seem to get better; this still needs investigating, and a visit to the dentist is advised. Recurring abscesses are an indicator of gum disease and/or periodontal disease; antibiotics will cure the infection of the abscess, but the gum disease itself still needs treating or it will progressively get worse. Teeth may have recently started reacting to hot and cold; sensitivity to extremes of temperature is another symptom of gum disease. Bad breath is not uncommon, especially after eating certain foods, but persistent bad breath is another early warning sign of gum disease. Information on bad breath treatments can be found at Whiter Smile: Bad Breath Products.

Treatment of gum disease
Dentists and dental hygienists can both treat gum disease; they are the experts that can identify the extent of the damage and the appropriate treatment. If caught early, gum disease can be treated by improving dental hygiene. Before the plaque hardens, it is still possible to remove it with gum disease toothpastes and rinses. Gum rinses contain a variety of ingredients, some natural some manmade. They all perform the same function, to attack the bacteria causing gum disease. To understand their function see "Perio-Therapy Gum Care Rinse". Dental hygiene is a combination of brushing and protecting your teeth. Rinses work on the gums, gum disease toothpaste, used in combination with rinses, cleans the plaque from your teeth and gum line. For an example of how that works, see "Perio-Therapy Gum Care Toothpaste". Gum disease needs attacking with all the dental hygiene tools available. Teeth should be regularly brushed with a high quality toothbrush, such as the "Dr. Collins Perio Toothpaste", at least after every meal and before going to bed. A flossing agent, either flossing string, or the new tiny shaped brushes, should be used to get between the gaps in your teeth where bacteria can hide. It is important to have regular check-ups with a dentist who can scrape the hardened plaque from your teeth. If left it too late, antibiotics and surgery may be needed to treat periodontal disease and receding gums, or the teeth may be lost.

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