Gum disease
Do you smoke cigarettes, have bad breath, and experience pain in the gum area when chewing food? These symptoms may indicate periodontal disease. It is estimated that in 2015, it affected more than half a billion people worldwide. Men get sick more often than women; the elderly and people with diabetes are also at increased risk.
Periodontal diseases
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a set of inflammatory conditions affecting the tissues surrounding the teeth. In the early stage of the disease, during inflammation, the gums become swollen, red, and may bleed. In the next stage, called periodontitis, the teeth can pull away from the gums, loosen, and in extreme cases even fall out on their own.
Gum diseases are caused by bacteria, highly abundant in the oral cavity, which infect the tissue around the teeth. In the early stages, periodontitis produces very few symptoms, which is why daily prevention and continuous dental hygiene are very important. We should be aware that early gingivitis is largely painless. Sometimes we mistakenly assume that minor bleeding after brushing teeth is not a major issue. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is the first sign that something bad is happening within the oral cavity.
Other symptoms we should pay special attention to are:
Swollen gums
Spitting out blood after brushing teeth
Bad breath and a persistent metallic taste in the mouth
Receding gums (apparent lengthening of the teeth)
Deep pockets between teeth and gums
Loose teeth (in the later stages of the disease)
Untreated gingivitis can turn into periodontitis. How does this happen? As the gum fibers are destroyed, the tissues separate from the tooth and deepen the periodontal pocket. Microorganisms existing below the gum line begin to colonize the periodontal pocket and cause further inflammation of the gum tissues, negatively affecting the bones.
The main cause of gingivitis is poor or ineffective oral hygiene, which leads to the accumulation of bacterial flora on the gum line, known as dental plaque. Other causes include poor nutrition or other medical issues, such as diabetes. Smoking is also a factor influencing the possibility of periodontitis. According to some researchers, periodontitis can also be linked to increased stress. As it turns out, genetic predisposition can also be decisive. Some people with good plaque control have advanced periodontitis, while others with poor oral hygiene are free from the disease.
Are you unsure if you are brushing correctly?
Don't know which toothbrush will be best for you? Our hygienists will conduct a brushing tutorial, recommend the right toothbrush for you, teach you how to floss correctly, and select the appropriate products to make your daily tooth cleaning easier.
Dental hygiene treatment
Why is constant and systematic oral hygiene important? Plaque forms on uncleaned or improperly cleaned teeth. It is important that dental plaque above and below the gumline is completely removed. Therefore, you should brush your teeth every day, morning and evening, and if possible, after every meal.
However, even the best individual systematic and daily hygiene cannot replace a professional cleaning procedure performed by a dental hygienist or dentist. To prevent the occurrence of gingivitis and periodontitis, we should undergo a professional hygienization procedure at least twice a year.
Stages and types of dental cleaning
Scaling
It involves the removal of plaque and hard deposits, so-called tartar, located both above and below the gumline. According to recommendations, the scaling procedure should be performed at least once every six months. If neglected for a long time, it can cause gum inflammation to transform into periodontal inflammation.
Sandblasting
After sandblasting, teeth become noticeably brighter and smoother. The procedure removes soft plaque and dark deposits that often cover the entire surfaces of the teeth. The frequency of this treatment is an individual matter, but most often we combine it with the scaling procedure.
Polishing
It allows for very precise smoothing of the enamel surface. Sometimes it is used for very minor deposits instead of sandblasting, e.g., in children.
Fluoridation
It aims to strengthen teeth by delivering fluoride compounds to the enamel. Fluoride has a strong anti-cavity effect and is essential for the proper development of teeth.
