Prevention of gum disease and tooth decay - advice from our Merton and Wimbledon Dentist

Have confidence in your smile!

Your smile requires regular and consistent maintenance treatment where preventative care is an important part of your dental health program. Dental health is increasingly recognised as important to the body as a whole, not just the mouth.

Preventative care should involve:

Regular dental examinations to assess the health of your teeth and gums. Early detection of dental decay and gum disease is essential to prevent unnecessary discomfort.

Regular hygienist visits to scale and polish teeth and treat inflamed gums to prevent bad breath. The hygienist will also give advice on cleaning techniques to achieve and maintain good oral hygiene. Dietary advice, where necessary, to reduce the onset of tooth decay and gum disease.

Review appointments to assess your progress on oral hygiene and monitor gingival health.

Mouth cancer screening. Smoking, drinking and unhealthy diets increase the risk of mouth cancer. Early detection increases the chances of survival.

What is Gum disease?

Periodontal or gum disease affects the tissues surrounding the teeth. These tissues include the gums and bone supporting the teeth. Periodontal disease is usually a slow, painless, progressive condition. Most adults with this disease are unaware they have it but if diagnosed and treated early the teeth can be saved.

Gingivitis is the early stages of gum disease affecting only the gums which is reversible but if it progresses it begins to attack the bone which holds the tooth in its socket and is called periodontitis. This can be treated to stop further bone loss but if left untreated can result in loss of the tooth.

The main cause of periodontal disease is plaque which is a white mass of bacteria and food debris which adheres to teeth, crowns, bridges, dentures and soft tissues. When plaque is not removed it irritates the gums causing them to become red, swollen, tender and bleed easily. Over time it hardens and is then known as tartar or calculus which requires removal by professional intervention. The tartar becomes a platform for further plaque accumulation which then results in gums becoming detached from the roots allowing ‘pockets’ to form around the teeth. Bacteria in these pockets begin to destroy bone that holds the tooth in place which may result in the tooth becoming loose and eventually lost.

Although plaque is mainly responsible for gum disease as a result of poor oral hygiene and inadequate tooth brushing technique, there are also a number of host factors that can worsen periodontal disease such as smoking, stress, diabetes mellitus, puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. The underlying cause is still plaque but these conditions can worsen your periodontal condition.

What happens if gum disease is not treated?

Gum disease progresses painlessly on the whole so that you do not notice the damage it is doing. However, the bacteria are sometimes more active and this makes your gums sore and can lead to gum abscesses, and pus may ooze from around the teeth. Over a number of years, the bone supporting the teeth can be lost and if the disease is left untreated for a long time, treatment can become more difficult resulting in tooth loss.

What are the causes of bad breath?

The odour is caused by wastes from bacteria in the mouth, the decay of food particles, other debris in your mouth and poor oral hygiene. The decay and debris produce a sulphur compound that causes the unpleasant odour. Some obvious causes are: Smoking, Alcohol, Strongly flavoured foods such as garlic or onions, Tooth decay, Gum disease, Mouth or throat infection, Diabetes, kidney failure or a liver malfunction and Dry mouth conditions. An odour that comes from the back of your tongue may indicate postnasal drip. This is where mucus secretion, which comes from the nose and moves down your throat, gets stuck on the tongue and causes an odour.

How do I control bad breath?

Regular hygienist visits are an essential course of action but it is also important to practice good oral hygiene, such as brushing and using interdental brushes/flossing your teeth at least twice a day. Correct brushing, including brushing the tongue, cheeks and the roof of the mouth, will remove bacteria and food particles. The best way to brush your tongue is with your toothbrush. Chewing sugar-free gum also may help control odour. Mouthwashes which are alcohol free will give longer lasting fresh breath. These are only an adjunct to good brushing/interdental brushing . If you have dentures or a removable appliance, such as a retainer or mouthguard, clean the appliance thoroughly before placing it back in your mouth.

Tooth sealants can be used to supplement your regular routine of brushing and flossing/interdental cleaning. We can apply a coat of plastic material or sealant on the top of biting surfaces of the back teeth which acts as a barrier between your teeth and the decay causing bacteria within the plaque. Coating the teeth with a slippery plastic material makes it harder for plaque to stick to the tiny grooves or fissures on the biting surface of teeth.

Sealants are most effective in reducing cavities in children with newly formed permanent teeth. They are useful in cutting down formation of decay in adult teeth, as well. It is an effective preventative measure to reduce the need for fillings and more expensive dentistry that may be required to repair the damage from cavities.

Advice for enjoying good oral health:

• Stop smoking. As well as the well known problems in relation to lung cancer and heart disease, smoking is a major contributory factor in oral cancer. It can also cause gum disease and also contributes to bad breath. Enjoy alcohol in moderation. Alcohol is another contributory factor to oral cancer.
• Avoid fizzy drinks and sugary snacks. These lead to a massive increase in plaque which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Try and restrict food intake to mealtimes. Oral bacteria benefit from the constant nourishment that snacking can provide. If you must snack, then try and choose foods like fresh fruit or cheese which are better for your teeth. Eat a well balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals. This will lead to healthier gums and therefore healthier teeth.
• Brush your teeth carefully twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth either with floss or interdental brushes.
• Regular check up and hygiene appointments at our Merton and Wimbledon dental clinic in South London.