Gum Disease- Oshawa Centre Dental Office
Gum disease is a condition where the gums become red and swollen. They may also become infected.
The initial signs of gum disease are;
•red and swollen gums
•bleeding gums after brushing or flossing This is called gingivitis. If left untreated the tissues and bones that support the teeth can also be affected.
This is called periodontitis or periodontal disease.
Symptoms of periodontal disease:
•an unpleasant taste in your mouth
•bad breath
•loose teeth
•gum recession (receding gums exposing the roots of the teeth
You must never ignore the signs of gum disease. See your dentist immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.
How does your dental professional diagnose gum disease?
During your dental exam, you have no doubt heard the dentist calling out numbers. This is called a BPE, a basic periodontal exam. This exam tells your dental professional what the patient's oral health care needs are.
It helps to determine what treatment is necessary.
In a basic periodontal exam, the mouth is divided into six areas 3 on the bottom and three on the top. Your score will be noted in the chart, this allows your dental professional to see what they need to keep an eye on. Your teeth are given a score of 0-4.
•0 means no treatment is needed
•1 and 2 mean that a basic cleaning is needed
•3 and 4 means gum disease is advancing and requires immediate treatment
When your dental professional has diagnosed you with gum disease, he/she will then refer you to a dentist that treats gum disease.
At Oshawa Centre Dental Office we have a dentist on our team that treats gum disease.