Healthy gums are crucial for healthy teeth, even from infanthood. We educate you and your family in maintaining healthy gums from wiping babies’ teeth with a clean cloth to regular flossing.
Gum disease is a really common complaint that can occur when teeth are neglected and can be caused by various lifestyle factors such as poor diet, smoking and even some medications. It is important to recognise the signs of gum disease including bleeding, receding and inflammation. Contact us as soon as possible if you think you may have a symptom of gum disease so that we can thoroughly assess the condition of your gums and put a proactive care plan into place to prevent any further issues.
Your dental health routine at home should consist of manual brushing, interdental brushing and flossing.
Manual brushing should be done twice a day for around two minutes, using small circular motions, not scrubbing and paying attention to all sides of the tooth. This removes any food particles and plaque from the teeth to prevent damage to the teeth and gums. A build up of plaque can cause gingivitis, which is a mild form of gum disease but, if left untreated, can lead to periodontitis. Periodontitis is a very serious gum disease that causes the gums to pull away from the teeth, allowing infection ‘pockets’ to form and eventually causing the destruction of gum tissue, loosening teeth and bone atrophy. You may also experience bad breath and pain.
Interdental brushing is done using smaller brushes that are colour-coded to indicate their different sizes. These clean out any build-up between the teeth that may be missed by regular manual brushing.
Flossing is often neglected but is crucial for removing the last bits of food and plaque build-up. If you start flossing after not doing it for a while, your gums may bleed at first, but this will subside in several days.
In the event that you suffer from an advanced gum disease such as periodontitis, our in-house specialists can assess you and create a treatment plan to minimise any damage and treat the issue as soon as possible.