gum treatment

Here’s everything you need to know about gum disease & gum treatment.

What is Gum Disease?

There are 2 main forms of gum disease; Gingivitis and Periodontitis. Gingivitis is the less severe form of gum disease, it is caused by inflammation of the gums.

Gingivitis occurs due to the presence of severe plaque, which results in the festering of bacteria on the gums and teeth, when plaque accumulates on the teeth, it can cause gums to bleed. This form of gum disease can be easily treated and is reversible.

However, if left to worsen without treatment, gingivitis will become more severe and ultimately become periodontitis or also commonly known and periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is the severe form of gum disease. Advanced stages of periodontitis can even cause boss loss in the jaw, resulting in premature tooth loss.

Our dental surgeons at NoFrills Dental have many years of experience in preventing, diagnosing, and treating periodontal disease, as well as the positioning and the maintenance of the dental implants in patients who have already suffered from premature tooth loss.

Fact: More than 50% of patients have periodontal disease and most of them are not even aware they are suffering from this disease.

Book An Appointment

Understanding Gum Disease With Dr Li Kexin

Do I Have Gum Disease?

Many patients are not even aware that they have gingivitis. Though it is possible to have gum disease without any symptoms, most patients suffering from gum disease do exhibit one or more of the following symptoms:

Swollen, tender and red gums
Bleeding gums
Loose teeth
Change in how teeth fit when biting
Pain in chewing
Increased sensitivity in teeth
Persistent bad breath
Pus between gums and teeth
Gum recession
Dentures don’t fit as well anymore

Proper Diagnosis of Gum Disease

If you are currently experiencing one or more of these symptoms. You are highly encouraged to book an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible to seek a professional clinical diagnosis and treatment for your condition.

During the dental checkup, your dentist will probe your gums using a with a small dental ruler in order to check for inflammation. This also allows the dentist to assess the periodontal pockets of your gums, a normal depth of a periodontal pocket is between 1mm – 3mm. In severe cases of gingivitis, your dentist may order for some X-rays to be taken to check for bone loss.

Generally, if mild gingivitis is present in your mouth, treatment can usually take place on the same visit, where the dentist will start off with a session of scaling and polishing or root planing for patients suffering from more severe form of gum disease.

However, depending on the severity of the infection, your dentist will recommend the best treatment plan suited to your needs and requirements which may include more complex forms of periodontal treatment

Get in Touch

Treatment For Gum Disease

Periodontal treatment procedures are recommended depending on the periodontal disease type and its severity.

In case the gum disease is detected during its early stages (that is the gingivitis stage) when supporting structures beneath the teeth have not been damaged then all you may need is professional cleaning.

Your dental team may then advise you on the daily routines you can practice so as to improve your oral health.

Generally there are 3 forms of dental treatment for gum disease:

scaling & polishing in Singapore ~ Professional dental cleaning in Singapore

Professional Cleaning

A normal session of professional cleaning will typically be sufficient to help treat mild forms of gum disease by thoroughly removing any tartar and plaque found of the exposed surfaces on teeth.

Some patients suffering from more severe forms of gum disease may require root planing or deep cleaning in order to thoroughly remove tartar and plaque that may have developed underneath gums and onto the surface of the tooth roots – the process of root planning helps to smoothen out rough spots and removes plaque and tartar from the root surface.

During the root planing procedure, infections and deposits are removed from the roots of teeth and the gums. Patients may have to undergo this treatment procedure over multiple visits based on their dental requirements.

Medication

Sometimes professional cleaning is not effective and the periodontal disease worsens even after attempting to treat the condition with a deep clean.

Some medications may also be recommended by your dentist to control the infection, minimise pain or assist in the healing process.

Medication to treat gum disease can be in the form of a pill, mouthwash or sometimes after root planing and scaling your dentist may place some medicine inside the periodontal pockets.

Types of medication for gum disease include:

Anti-bacterial Mouthwash – containing chlorhexidine which is typically used to disinfect the mouth.
Antiseptic Medication – containing chlorhexidine may be inserted into pockets after root planing procedure to help disinfect gums.
Oral Antibiotics – can be used to combat infection and treat areas of gum disease.

Periodontal Surgery

In case periodontal pockets fail to heal even after root planing procedures and medication, then it may be necessary for patients to undergo periodontal surgery.

During periodontal flap surgery the gums are surgically exposed and lifted backwards, this then allows the dentist to get rid of plaque and tartar found in areas deep beneath the gum that could not normally be reached during deep cleaning.

After removing tartar and plaque from the exposed areas, the gums get stitched back so that they hold the teeth firmly in place. Additionally, periodontal surgery reduces the depth of pockets hence making it easy to maintain oral hygiene, reducing the probability of future infections.

Bone Loss Due to Gum Disease

In case periodontal disease damages the supporting bone structure then this bones could be rebuilt or reshaped through surgery. Appliances such as splints and bite guards may be utilized to support loose teeth and assist gum tissues heal faster. In case there has been excessive loss of bone or gum tissue, the solution would be bone or gum grafting.

Sometimes guided tissue regeneration may be employed where after surgery the dentist puts a layer of membrane in the area where surgical incision was done to keep the gums in their correct position as the root of the tooth gets slowly reattached back to supporting structure. Also, the dentist can apply some protective covering on the gums and teeth after surgery. Your dentist may also recommend a special mouthwash, pain reliever and antibiotic

The dentist may place a membrane layer at the surgical area to help the gums stay in place while the tooth root reattaches to the supporting ligament. This is called “guided tissue regeneration.” After surgery, the dentist may apply a protective dressing over teeth and gums and recommend or prescribe a special mouthrinse. Your dentist also may prescribe an antibiotic and pain reliever.

Speak to a Dentist

FAQs About Gum Disease

Here are some commonly asked questions that our dentists get about gum disease

How do I prevent gum disease?

It is important for you to maintain an oral hygiene routine at home to prevent worsening or recurrence of periodontal disease. Proper cleaning minimizes the accumulation of tartar and controls plaque.

Brushing your teeth at least two times every day using fluoridated toothpaste.
Flossing your teeth at least once every day or you can also use any other method to clean between your teeth.
It is recommended that you avoid chewing or smoking tobacco.

Do not allow periodontal disease to destroy your teeth. Simply practice brushing and cleaning between teeth, eat healthy food and make regular visits to your dentist.

What to do after completing gum surgery?

Your next visit to the dentist will be arranged and it could to happen in a couple months or even weeks after the last time you have undergone root planing and scaling procedures. During the visit, your gums will be examined and periodontal sockets measured.

Essentially your dentist will examine your gums’ healing progress and in the case where periodontal sockets have deepened further and damaged your gums’ supporting bones then you will require more treatment.

What health conditions are associated with gum disease?

There have been many studies made linking poor oral health and gum disease to an increased risk for other health complication such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, lung disease and even certain types of cancers.

Do note that eventhough gum disease is usually a associated with these health conditions, it has NOT been proven that gum disease directly causes there health complications, further reseach into the matter is required.

References

Anon
Nidcr.Nih.Gov, 2020, https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/gum-disease/more-info. Accessed 3 Oct 2020.
CDC | Oral Health | Oral Health Conditions
“CDC | Oral Health | Oral Health Conditions”. Cdc.Gov, 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/index.html. Accessed 3 Oct 2020.

What are risk factors for gum disease?

There are a number of health, dental and lifestyle factors that can increase the risk of developing gum disease;

Smoking or chewing tobacco – gum disease is highly prevalent in patients who smoke and chew tobacco as it significantly increases the risk of gum inflammation.
Diabetes – patients suffering from diabetes are at an increased risk of developing some form of gingivitis as a result of their susceptibility to gum inflammation.
Oral Contraceptives – patients taking certain types of oral contraceptives have been known to be more succeptible to developing gum disease
Steroids – patients taking certain types of steroid have been known to be move succeptible to developing gum disease.
Chemotherapy – cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy are highly succeptible to developing gum disease due to their compromised immune systems.
Crooked Teeth – patients suffering from crooked teeth or other types of malocclusion have been known to develop gum disease as it is generally difficult to maintain good oral health when suffering from certain types of malocclusion. As such, patients are usually advised to straighten their teeth through the use of orthodontic systems such as braces and Invisalign, allowing for easier oral health maintenance and the reduced risk of gum disease.
Poorly Fitted Dental Appliances – dental appliances that aren’t fitted properly can cause food to get trapped in there appliances, which can result in gum disease.
Compromised Immune System – patients who are suffering from a compromised immune system are highly susceptible to developing gum disease. These patients should take extra care when it comes to maintaining their oral health.
Pregnancy – Due to hormonal & physiological changes in the body, preganant women have been known to be more susceptible to gum disease.