Gum Disease
Gum disease is quite possibly the worst and most painful kind of oral disease that one can suffer from. Unfortunately, it is quite easy to contract gum disease if one is not careful about maintaining good oral hygiene and following the recommendations of the dentist regarding cleaning and regular examination of the teeth.
What is gum disease
As the name suggests, gum disease takes place inside the gums when the plaque, initially formed over teeth, gets deposited inside the gums in the form of tartar. This tartar or calculus substance contains certain harmful bacteria which eat away at the fibres and bones which attach the teeth to the gums. Initially, deep pockets are formed where the bacteria are at work which continue to spread till ultimately, if the disease is not treated in time, there is nothing left to hold the teeth to the gum and it falls off.
Gum disease – diagnosis
Gum disease is diagnosed only be examining and measuring the pockets formed by the bacteria eating away at the fibres between the gums and the teeth. Although any sign of formation of such pockets is a bad sign for oral health, it is only when the pockets created are more than 3 millimetres deep that the doctor would actually diagnose gum disease.
Treatment of Gum Disease
Early detection of gum disease is always preferred as it means there are fewer bacteria to remove. As the disease progresses, the bacteria spread to surrounding teeth also which only creates bigger problems. Essentially, there is no medicine for gum disease. The treatment only involves removal of the harmful bacteria along with the calculus/ tartar and plaque from the teeth with the help of special surgical tools.
Treatment of gum disease also comes with recommendations of regular dental check-ups and dental cleanings at least once in six months to ensure there is no further formation of plaque.