Gingivitis & Periodontal Treatment

Gum Disease Therapy

Gum Disease also known as Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and underlying bone that support your teeth. It is caused by a build-up of the bacteria which live in the plaque and calculus on your teeth. The bacteria and toxins produced by the bacteria irritate your gums.

If you don’t remove plaque from your teeth and gums every day, you may find that your gums become swollen and red and that they bleed easily when you brush your teeth.

As the disease progresses, your gums may pull away from your teeth to form pockets or gaps between your teeth and gums. We call these gaps Periodontal Pockets. As periodontal pockets can be very difficult to clean out properly, they tend to fill up with more plaque and calculus.

A child's mouth being examined by a dental hygienist.

Is Gum Disease Dangerous?

If the infection in the periodontal pockets spreads to your underlying jawbone, your teeth may become loose. Gum disease is the main reason for tooth loss in adults.

A woman in a white shirt is holding a model of a tooth.

A woman is getting her teeth examined by a dentist.

What Are The Signs Of Gum Disease?

You might notice that you have bleeding gums, bad breath, receding gums or loose teeth depending on how advanced the disease has become. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should not delay seeing a dentist.

Causes Of Gum Disease

Typical causes of gum disease include poor oral hygiene, weak immunity, health conditions or diseases, medications, oral injury and/or lifestyle factors such as an unbalanced diet and smoking. Although these multiple factors can trigger gum disease, plaque residue to which bacteria attach and grow is the main cause.

For this reason, it is vital to maintain regular oral hygiene through daily teeth brushing and flossing, as well as regular dental check-ups and professional teeth cleaning. Plaque develops into solid tartar that can only be removed safely without oral damage by a dentist through teeth cleaning, scaling and polishing.

A person is holding a model of a person's teeth.

Treating Gum Disease

Gum disease is treatable and we have dental professionals, who are qualified and experienced in this field, to help patients in the prevention and removal of gum disease.

Preventative treatments include teeth scaling and polishing to remove plaque and tartar build-up. Teeth are scaled and polished for a fresh and healthy mouth. Guidance is provided to patients on how best to maintain oral hygiene.

For more information or to book a check-up with one of our experienced dentists in Gold Coast or Brisbane, contact us today.