Why are my gums bleeding?

Periodontitis and Gingivitis treatment in Derby

Most of us, on occasions at least, may have noticed a little blood when we are cleaning our teeth. Often this is not a cause for alarm and may just be a scratching of the gums. However, it can also be an early sign of gum disease. For this reason visiting a periodontist in Derby to have your gums checked is highly recommended. Whilst it may turn out not be gum disease, it is better to have this checked out by a qualified local periodontist as if caught early, it is easily treatable. If it is left however, and deteriorates, the treatment is likely to be more extensive (and of course expensive).

Gum disease is actually very common, with around half of the UK thought to have it to some degree. In most cases, it is relatively mild and can be resolved simply by adopting a better cleaning routine which will help to rid the mouth of the bacteria which causes it. Neglecting to treat it in the early stages though can cause it to become something more serious such as periodontitis which affects the tissues in the mouth which hold the teeth in their position. Periodontitis usually involves the bone in the jaw decaying and causing gaps to appear between the gum and the teeth causing the teeth to loosen and eventually fall out all together.

Most people will have heard of plaque and may have thought that this is simply a hard substance which attaches itself to the teeth and has only a negative cosmetic effect. This could not be further from the truth though as it is a collection of bacteria which will eventually irritate the gums causing them to become inflamed and sore.

If you keep regular appointments with your local Derby dentist, providing that they have periodontic expertise which many do, you should have no major problems with gum diseases such as gingivitis. This will be detected in the early stages where the dentist will advise you on the best way to clean your teeth which may involve flossing techniques as well as simple brushing.

If however, you have allowed the gum disease to become more advanced, your dentist may decide to ‘deep clean’ your teeth which involves the removal of the hardened plaque that has built up. This is not a major procedure but can feel unpleasant and is sometimes done using a local anaesthetic. If the bacteria are significantly advanced it may be that this cleaning needs to be done much deeper into the root of the tooth which is not a particularly pleasant experience. More advanced cases could also lead to the removal of teeth leaving the patient with the option of replacing them with dentures or dental implants after the infection has cleared.

It may even be that visiting your periodontist saves more than your teeth too. There is growing evidence that a build up of plaque can also contribute to heart problems. Research into this though is at a relatively early stage although it is better to be safe than sorry.

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