It is not uncommon for our patients to suffer gum disease at some point in our lives. Our team at The Smile Designer Dental Studio in Melbourne understand that the key is to identify the problem early on, and help you understand the solutions and options that are available to you.
We have created our dental studios in a warm and relaxing environment. A place where our experienced team of dentists can ease your nerves and guide you through all your options and costs. Our goal is show you all your options, so that you are well informed to make the best decision for yourself.
Most people at some stage of their life will get affected by gum disease. This is caused by the build up of plaque and calculus on our teeth that will lead to an infection. Our body tries to fight the infection off, and in the process, destroys the gums and bone that supports the teeth. Once we lose this healthy bone and gum, teeth will start getting loose.
The signs and symptoms of having gum disease is when they feel tender, are swollen and red. They also tend to bleed when we you brush or floss. There is usually a bad taste and is associated with bad breath. This will lead to teeth getting loose, and there is noticeable movement with gaps between the teeth.
At your initial consultation, our team at The Smile Designer will assess the health of your gums. An initial clean can be performed, but this will be followed by further gum treatments. Once we have been able to manage the disease process, it is very important to keep up with your regular dental hygiene visits to maintain the health of your gums and prevent further problems.
At The Smile Designer, we use the latest in Dental Laser Technology to painlessly clean and disinfect the gums. All options and costs will be discussed at your initial consultation.
Bad Breath, or Halitosis, can be caused by having gum disease or the presence of dental decay. Left untreated, the condition gets worse. The bacteria in the mouth forms volatile sulphur compounds and can produce a bad smell. The presence of calculus and plaque around the teeth and gums can lead to inflammation, leading to a bad smell. Read our FAQ’s for more information below.
The main cause of Periodontal Disease is bacterial plaque and calculus that have been allowed to accumulate around the teeth for a period of time. There are other contributing factors to gum disease which include Smoking and Tobacco use, Genetics, Poor Nutrition, Stress, Medical complications like Diabetes, the use of certain medications and clenching and grinding our teeth.
Pregnancy can induce Gum Disease and in most cases pregnant women have bleeding gums. There have been many studies showing the correlation with gum disease and premature birth and low birth weight.
Some drugs, such as oral contraceptives, anti-depressants, and certain heart medications can contribute to gum disease and cause swollen, red and bleeding gums.
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day with a soft tooth brush or an electric toothbrush is ideal. Dental floss is to be used to clean in between each tooth, and helps remove plaque. It is human nature stop flossing because the gums are bleeding, but instead, flossing and brushing should be continued. Professional routine scaling and cleaning appointments are ideal to maintain the health and longevity of your gums and teeth.
A thorough examination will need to be done to work out the status of the gums and the teeth. All cavities and dental decay needs to be treated, alongside with any gum treatments as advised.
Maintaining good oral hygiene and maintaining regular dental hygiene visits are essential.
The majority of the bacteria in our mouth live on our tongue, so it is essential that we use a tongue scraper to clean our tongues daily. There are also special mouthwashes that can be used to eliminate these ‘volatile sulphur compounds’ that contribute to the bad smell.
Speak to our team at The Smile Designer to work through your options.
We are located in Melbourne at 118-120 High street, Thornbury. We are on the border of Thornbury and South Preston, close to Bell Street, and just a stones throw away from surrounding suburbs like Northcote, Brunswick, Preston and Heidelberg.