GUM DISEASE–PERIODONTITIS

Arnout & Hobbelink Dentists in Amstelveen Randwijck.Nearby Amsterdam Buitenveldert, Amstelveen Elsrijk, Amsterdam Oud-Zuid, RAI Amsterdam and the Zuidas.

Healthy gums are the foundation for your teeth. Incorrect brushing can cause gum disease (inflammation of the gums). If this becomes chronic, infection may spread to the jaw bone. In extreme cases this can lead to teeth becoming loose or even falling out. That is why it is our highest priority to help keep your teeth and gums healthy.

What are the symptoms of gum disease?

If your gums are causing you pain, the infection has usually already progressed. You can identify gum disease by one or more of these symptoms:

  • Bleeding gums (for example when brushing your teeth)

  • Sensitive, painful, irritated or red gums

  • Receding or swollen gums

  • Increased build-up of tartar or plaque on and between the teeth

  • Bad breath or an unpleasant taste in your mouth

  • Teeth moving position

  • Ulcers, fistulas, abscesses or blisters

  • The danger of gum disease is that you often won’t notice it in the early stages. The infection will damage your teeth but you may not feel it.

  • That is why it is so important to visit your dentist every six months for a checkup and to maintain good oral hygiene.

  • Do not ignore an infection as it can spread, possibly resulting in teeth becoming loose or even falling out.

  • Do you think you may have gum disease? Do you have one or more of the symptoms mentioned above? Then consider scheduling your checkup sooner. Talk to your dentist or dental hygienist about it so that they can advise you on an appropriate treatment plan.

How can I prevent gum disease?

You can prevent gum disease
– Using antibacterial toothpaste
– Using antibacterial mouthwash
– Using gum-enhancing toothpaste (with minerals)
– Seeing your dentist every six months for a checkup
– Having tartar professionally removed from your teeth
– Regularly massaging your gums with a toothbrush
– Using floss, toothpicks or interdental brushes daily
– Brushing or scraping your tongue

A dental hygienist can give you advice on brushing techniques and toothbrushes.

It is best to brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening, just before going to bed. This removes bacteria that would otherwise damage your teeth during the night. Brushing your teeth removes plaque build-up, so be sure to brush every tooth surface that you can reach.

To remove plaque from between teeth (which generally can’t be reached with a toothbrush), use dental floss, toothpicks or interdental brushes. Which of those methods works best for you will depend on the space between your teeth. Arnout & Hobbelink Dentists can give you personalised advice on which methods are most suitable for you.

What can I expect during treatment for gum inflammation (gingivitis)?

Gingivitis is usually treated by the dental hygienist who will clean your gums.

Some people have very sensitive gums and feel anxious about having their teeth cleaned. Let us know if this is the case for you as we can numb the area for you before performing the procedure.

Gum Disease - Periodontitis: Incorrect brushing can cause gum disease (inflammation of the gums).

What can I expect during treatment for serious gum disease (periodontitis)?

The dentist will refer you to a dental hygienist for the treatment of serious gum disease. The treatment includes:

– Oral examination to locate all affected areas in the mouth.
– Thorough cleansing of openings in the gums (pockets).
– Detailed instructions on how to correctly maintain your oral health.

Three months after the initial treatment a follow-up oral examination will take place to assess the inflammation and whether further treatment is required. Additional professional cleaning of problematic areas is sometimes required and the hygienist may modify the instructions for your home oral care.

If the inflammation has not healed sufficiently, the dentist will take a tissue sample to assess if there are dangerous bacteria present causing the inflammation. If that is the case, the dentist can prescribe a course of antibiotics which will help the treatment be successful.

In serious cases it may be necessary to refer you to a specialised periodontal clinic where a periodontist can treat a persistent infection. After numbing the area with a local anaesthetic, the gums are surgically opened (flaps) to enable thorough cleaning of the underlying area.