Gum Disease Gum disease is either Gingivitis or Periodontitis. Gingivitis is inflammation of the gum around the tooth but does not involve any loss of the bone or periodontal ligament. It can usually be resolved by improving oral hygiene. This can be done by being more thorough when doing tooth brushing and by brushing more often (Brushing gently though!). Flossing between the teeth is also helpful. A simple scaling of the teeth carried out by a dentist or hygienist will also help. Periodontitis is a more serious problem. It is defined by loss of attachment of the periodontal ligament to the tooth and subsequent loss of the bone support around the tooth. If allowed to progress it can lead to loss of teeth as they can become loose. Periodontal disease can be quite insidious and progress over a number of years and may not be noticed by the patient until a tooth becomes sensitive or loose. During a routine examination the dentist checks the teeth and gums for evidence of gum disease. This is done by probing around the teeth to check for pockets between the gum and tooth, also to check for bleeding on probing the gum and we also check to see if any teeth are getting a bit loose. Quite often xrays are taken to check the bone levels around the teeth. Once gum disease is identified by the dentist a treatment plan is discussed and agreed with the patient. Gum disease is caused by plaque which usually appears as a whitish sticky layer on the teeth and it is colonised by bacteria. The bacteria cause the gum disease. Calculus(Tartar) deposits which build up on the teeth can make it harder to remove plaque. Treatment involves improving the patient’s home cleaning regime. A superficial cleaning is carried out which will remove plaque and calculus(tartar) deposits visible above the gum. Further visits may be needed to carry out cleaning of root surfaces. This will usually be done under local anaesthetic. In some very severe cases of periodontal disease a referral to a Peridontist (a specialist in gum disease) may be advised and this would be discussed with the patient. Some patients are more susceptible to gum disease than others. It cannot be reversed but it can be controlled with dedicated daily care.