Is Gum Disease Painful?
Some common misconceptions about gum health.
If your teeth aren’t giving you any trouble and you are fairly sure that you have no cavities, then it is easy to believe that your mouth is in good health. It isn’t just your teeth that matter though. Your gums are just as important.
Poor gum health can cause a number of problems and even eventually lead to tooth loss in some cases. This is one of the reasons why the team at the Confidental Clinic in Greenwich put such emphasis on helping our patients to have healthy gums.
How do you know if you have gum disease though? There can be a presumption that if you have a problem with your gums, that it will hurt, but is this really true?
Gum disease can cause soreness of the gums, for sure. This is not always the case though, and even if your gums feel OK, you should still have them checked by our hygienist. There is no real point in waiting until your gum problem has become more advanced before having it treated.
Gingivitis, the earlier stage of gum disease, is much more easily treated than if it is left to advance to periodontitis. At this stage, more extensive and invasive treatment is needed. Having it treated early on will help to avoid this.
What if my gums bleed?
This can happen even during the early stages of gum disease. There can be a tendency to believe that we may have scratched ourselves with the bristles of the toothbrush perhaps. If this happens only once, that is a possibility. If it happens more than once, there is every possibility that gingivitis is present.
Even if your gums don’t bleed, or don’t feel sore, regular checks are essential to make sure that gum disease is not a problem. The best way to do this is to have a six monthly check and clean with the dental hygienist at our Greenwich practice. This is not only a great opportunity to have your gums examined and discuss ways that you can look after your teeth and gums better, but also to have your teeth scaled and polished.
This is a straightforward procedure which removes hardened bacteria from the teeth and gum line. It causes no discomfort and also gives your mouth a much fresher feel. The fact that it may also remove some surface staining also encourages some patients to make more regular hygienist appointments at the Confidental Clinic.
In conclusion then, just because you don’t appear to have any gum disease symptoms, does not necessarily mean that it isn’t present. Make sure that you have the healthiest gums possible, not only with good home care but also professional monitoring and cleaning. Please call the Confidental Clinic in Greenwich today, to book an appointment with our hygienist on 020 8858 1422.