10 common questions asked about Gum Disease

1. What is a gum disease?

Gum diseases are an infection of the gums which hold the teeth in place. In early stages it is painless and many are unaware of it.

2. What is the cause of gum diseases?

Gum diseases can be caused by many factors but mainly poor oral hygiene which results in the accumulation of bacteria, mucus and other particles which lead to formation of plaque.

3. What are the different gum diseases?

The different gum diseases can be gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis; is a milder form of infection where gums are swollen and bleed but there is no loss of bone and tissue that hold the teeth in place.
Periodontitis; is a severe form infection leading to the destruction of bone and tissues of the teeth which loosen the teeth and ultimately leading to extraction if not treated properly.

4. What are the risk factors for gum diseases?

The risk factors for gum diseases can be smoking, hormonal changes in girls, certain medications taken for health conditions like diabetes etc.

5. How do I know if I have gum diseases?

Gum disease is usually painless at an early stage. The symptoms may include; bad breath, swollen gums, bleeding gums while brushing, receding gums, sensitive teeth, loose tooth etc.

6. What are the different treatments for gum diseases?

The treatment for gum diseases varies with the extent of damage to the tissues and bone.
Milder forms may be treated by deep cleaning procedures like curettage.
Severe bone loss may be treated by flap surgery and bone grafts.

7. What happens if gum diseases are not treated?

If gum diseases are not treated the gums may pull away from the teeth and form pockets or spaces between tooth and gums which leads to accumulation of food and progression of infection leading to loss of teeth.

8. Is gum disease contagious?

According to the research the gum disease is caused by the inflammatory reaction to bacteria under the gums so technically it is not contagious but bacteria that cause the inflammatory reaction can spread through saliva.

9. Are medications required to treat gum diseases?

Medications are required to treat the gum infection which may be:

• Topical applied to the gums.
• Oral pills in severe peridontities
• Sustained release antibiotics inserted into the gum pocket for periodontitis.

10. How to I prevent gum diseases?

Gum diseases are caused by plaque which can be prevented by proper brushing and flossing, maintaining a healthy life style likes not smoking having a good diet
Using mouth wash which can reduce plaque formation.
Maintaining Regular checkup with the dentists.