Here at one80 Dental, we offer patients access to a unique team of specialists that provide the highest quality treatment and support for all your dental and oral health needs – and all under one roof.
That team does not just care for your teeth. Manuel Carbajal Pedraz is one of just a handful of specialist periodontists in the region who focus on the foundations of a healthy mouth – the gums.
And here are just 5 reasons why you should pay more attention to your gums.
- Healthy gums mean a healthy mouth
No matter how great the condition of your teeth, they require healthy gums to support them. When your gums are healthy they serve as a seal around your teeth, providing a strong barrier to all the bacteria in your mouth.
But, if your gums bleed when you brush or floss your teeth this could be a sign of gum disease. This is a condition where the gums become inflamed due to a build-up of plaque around the teeth – a sticky substance that contains bacteria
If it is not brushed away, the bacteria can irritate the gums which can then become swollen, sore, or infected; this is referred to as gingivitis. Long-standing gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease.
As a consequence, your gums recede and the roots of your teeth become exposed. Other signs of gum disease may include bad breath and a change in the position of teeth.
- Gum disease is really common
Periodontal disease, or gum disease, Indeed 8 out of 10 people aged 35 years and over suffer from some form of it.
- Gum disease can cause tooth loss
As the disease gets worse the bone anchoring the teeth in the jaw is lost, making the teeth loose. If this is not treated, the teeth may eventually fall out – with all the associated negative impacts on chewing, speech and self-esteem.
- Gum disease is also linked to other major health problems
Gum health is an integral part of dental and oral health and can also play a significant role in the body’s overall health.
The presence of a vast quantity of bacteria under the gums means they can pass into the bloodstream and affect other parts of the body, either directly or indirectly, causing systemic inflammation.
Manuel Carbajal Pedraz
This could increase the risk of suffering cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, it could adversely affect pregnancy, diabetes control and diabetic complications.
- We can do something if it’s caught early enough
A good oral care routine at home with brushing and interdental cleaning is the most important thing you can do to help prevent gum disease.
Regular check-ups with our dental hygienist are also vital to ensure you are brushing and cleaning your teeth properly, to remove all plaque and tartar from your teeth.
Gum disease can be detected in its early stages by your dentist, hygienist or dental therapist. However, it may sometimes need more specialised expertise to diagnose its full extent and to provide the most appropriate care.
So, having a specialist periodontist like Manuel in the team means we can make sure you get tailored treatment to help arrest the progression and limit the impact of gum disease.
For more information about gum disease, check out the following helpful patient advice from the European Federation of Periodontology http://www.efp.org/patients/index.html
You might also like to watch this patient video case study from The British Society of Periodontology http://www.bsperio.org.uk/patients/index.html
