Maintaining Gum Health

We get many calls from people on the Sunshine Coast who are concerned about their Gum Health.

Healthy gums are pale pink, firm and look speckled.

If yours doesn’t look like this it is well worth contacting us to make an appointment.

Poor gum health can lead to Gingivitis, which is the condition when the gums become inflamed, red, swollen, tender and bleed easily. This generally results from the bacteria in plaque causing gum irritation.

If plaque is not removed, it begins to spread beneath the gum-line and gradually starts to destroy the gum tissue and bone. Long-term gum infection, known as periodontitis can result in the loss of your teeth, and in some studies, it has been associated with:

• • Poorly controlled diabetes

• • Cardiovascular disease

• • High blood pressure

• • Birth of pre-term, low birth-weight babies

• Increased risk of heart attack and stroke

“If you are worried about your gum health the best thing you can do is schedule regular dental appointments with us of at least six month intervals”

Poor Gum Health Symptoms

It is imperative to keep a close watch on your gum health and in particular potential gum disease symptoms including:

• • Mouth pain

• • Gums that bleed when you brush or floss

• • Increased space between the teeth

• • Gums that feel swollen or tender

• • Gums that appear to be receding, making your teeth appear longer

• • Persistent bad breath

• • The formation of pus between your teeth

• • Changes in your bite and the way your teeth fit together
• Sores in your mouth

How is Poor Gum Health Treated?

Keeping your teeth for life can only be achieved if you maintain the supporting structures of the teeth in a healthy and stable state.

At Sunshine Coast Smile Centre in Maroochydore we treat Periodontal (Gum) Disease by firstly assessing your current state of oral health and then by helping you modify your oral hygiene or cleaning routine to maximise its effectiveness.

This in turn ensures you maintain the periodontal ligament and thus supports the bone in a healthy, stable condition.

Worried About Your Gum Health?

If you are worried about your gum health the best thing you can do is schedule regular dental appointments with us of at least six month intervals.

If you would like us to review the state of your gums please call the dentists at Sunshine Coast Smile Centre on 07 5443 2800 to make an appointment.