“A brief guide to Gum Disease and it’s treatment” by Dr Federico Moreno

Hello!

I am Dr Federico Moreno and from now on I will be part of the team at Indigo Little. Originally from Spain, I came to England back in 2009 looking for a bit of sunshine! Two years ago I decided to embark in training in Periodontology (the science that deals with the problems of the bone and gums surrounding your teeth) at the world renowned UCL Eastman Dental Institute and this why I now only work providing treatment for gum disease, aesthetic gum problems and dental implants.

In this letter I will try to give you some information on what gum disease is and how we can tackle it. Your gums need to be healthy for you to maintain your teeth for your lifetime and will also help you achieve the perfect smile. But healthy gums are not just important for your oral health. Maintaining healthy gums can also be important for your overall health. Research suggests an association with advanced gum disease and other chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. The European Federation of Periodontology has recently launched an awareness campaign on this, titled Perio and General Health. The Vital Connections. It aims to help everyone understand the importance of healthy gums for your whole body.

Gingivitis and Periodontitis: the Basics

The bacteria which live in our mouths create a sticky film on teeth (plaque). Brushing and flossing help to remove plaque. When plaque is not removed, it hardens over time to form calculus which cannot be removed by brushing. Only a professional cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist can remove calculus (tartar).

The plaque on your teeth will cause inflammation of the gums which is what we know as gingivitis. Most of the population show some degree of gingivitis which is easily spotted in gums that look shiny, red, swollen and bleeding when brushing, or even spontaneously. People with gingivitis have not lost any bone around the roots of the teeth (which is what holds the teeth in place!).

The good news is that gingivitis is completely reversible and, for most of us, the gums will go back to normal within a week of a cleaning from your dentist and a week of proper brushing and flossing. Regular check-ups and cleanings as well as good oral hygiene are the best way to prevent gingivitis from happening in the first case.

If not treated, gingivitis can advance to periodontitis, when you start losing the supporting bone of the teeth. Deep pockets form between the gums and your teeth, hiding the bacteria deep inside the gums and outside of the reach of your floss and toothbrush. If not treated, the teeth will eventually become loose and exfoliate themselves. The teeth may eventually fall out or need to be removed.

Not everyone develops periodontitis but research has shown that it affects almost half of the population in the UK. To develop periodontitis, you have to be susceptible to the disease. There is a genetic component which makes your body react aggressively against plaque. In addition, your lifestyle may also make you more prone to have periodontitis. Smoking and systemic diseases such as diabetes will put you at a higher risk of gum problems and will also make the treatment less effective.

Treatment

Firstly, prevention should always be our main priority. By brushing your teeth for 2-3 minutes, twice a day, with fluoride toothpaste, and by flossing on a daily basis, you will significantly decrease your chances of developing gum problems. Also, try to keep a healthy balanced lifestyle and don’t smoke!

Our team of dentists and hygienists at Indigo Little will clean your teeth meticulously to remove the plaque and calculus above and below the gum line. With more advanced periodontal care we remove the pockets of bacteria, using local anaesthetic. This may take a number of visits. You will also be given instructions on how to remove the plaque successfully, yourself, at home on a daily basis which is probably the most important part of this initial treatment.

After allowing some time for the healing of the gums, the condition of your mouth will be reassessed and you may be advised to have some more advanced treatment such as minor gum surgery to completely eliminate the pockets or even try to grow the bone back in some specific cases.

Periodontal disease is never cured, but it can be controlled as long as you maintain good care at home and attend your periodontist/hygienist regularly (in accordance with your needs). Regular appointments are the key to keeping your teeth healthy for life, as it will allow our team to catch any recurrent problems in advance and keep your smile in great shape!

We hope to see you soon at Indigo Little!

Dr Federico Moreno

Posted by Indigo Little on 2nd October 2014, under Practice Blog

Dr. Kishanie Wijesinghe Little BDS

Dr. Kishanie Little is passionate about delivering excellent dentistry and dental restorations that are life-like and indistinguishable from natural teeth. She believes that restorations (fillings/crowns/veneers) should look beautiful – and that they should last. Dr. Little keeps abreast of new developments in restorative dentistry through post-graduate training.

Dr. Little is also an experienced Facial Aesthetistician, including Botulinum toxins (such as Botox) and Dermafillers. She appreciates how simple and subtle changes to smooth and relax muscles can “freshen” a face, to look younger.

In her personal time, she loves to cook, read, run, practice yoga and pilates, play a bad game of tennis and am now learning to play golf. She loves Art and Theatre and support the Tate Modern. She also enjoys writing and has a book in the works.