Gum Disease
A clean mouth with healthy gums is the foundation of long-term dental health.
The health of your gums is critical in oral health. If they become inflamed and tender, and they bleed while brushing, you may have gum disease.
Our hygienists have the expertise to restore your gums to full health and demonstrate how proper cleaning can help keep gum disease at bay.
If you believe you have gum disease, you should contact Shields Dental & Implant Clinic Limerick today on 061 480 070.
Here are some of the questions that our patients ask us about gum disease.
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums, which become red and swollen, and often bleed when brushed. Without treatment, gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease, which can lead to loss of the bone anchoring the teeth in the jaw, making them loose. If this is not treated the teeth may fall out.
There are various measure that you can take to prevent gum disease as follows:
- Practice Good Oral Hygiene. Make sure you’re using an antibacterial mouthwash and are brushing twice a day, preferably with an electric toothbrush. Ensure that you are using the correct brushing technique and also remember to floss regularly.
- Stay Healthy. Healthy people are less unlikely to contract gingivitis, so ensure you have a balanced, nutritious diet to prevent gum disease. Ensure that you get the recommended hours of sleep per night (7-9 hours for adults) as it is also strongly linked with gingivitis prevention.
- Ditch bad habits like smoking and eating sugary or acidic foods as these will weaken your gums. This would include alcohol and fruit juice.
- Stay Alert on the Signs. If you generally have red, swollen gums or are noticing blood whenever you brush your teeth or floss, you may have gum disease. You must visit your dentist as soon as you notice these symptoms.
Read more on ways to prevent gum disease here.