Sore Gums and Related Problems

Early Stage Dental Problems in Ashby and Burton Patients

Whilst most people think, quite naturally, that dental care is ‘all about the teeth’, they are often surprised to find that all too often, it is just as much about the gums as well. Naturally, the two are related, and as we shall see, by taking care of our gums, our teeth will also stand a much better chance of remaining healthy.

Just a bit of blood….

How many times have you, when brushing, noticed that there is some blood when you spit? This has probably happened to most of us who simply brush it away presuming that we must have caught something with the brush and that it is nothing to worry about’. Of course, this can and does happen, and if this happens just the once, there is perhaps no need to be overly concerned (although it is certainly worth mentioning to your dentist when you go). If you notice blood, when cleaning your teeth, a few times though, it could be the start of something more significant.

The same also applies if your gums have become red and inflamed or are causing you soreness and discomfort, especially when eating. Although you may think that this is something that you simply have to live with, this is not the case and simple dental treatment will prevent the problem from progressing any further.

Gum Disease

The above problems are, in fact, likely not to be one off occurrences but the result of the onset of gum disease. This should not be taken lightly and although it affects over half of us at some point in our life is a) devastating if left to progress and b) quite easily treated in its early stages.

The ‘disease’ is actually a buildup of bacteria in the mouth. This bacteria is entirely normal provided that it is limited through regular brushing and flossing of our teeth. Other factors can contribute to its increase too such as having a dry mouth. This prevents the bacteria from being washed away and the problem is especially prevalent in smokers for whom a dry mouth is quite a common occurrence.

Gum Disease Treatments

Whether you are from Swadlincote or one of our catchment areas such as Ashby or Burton, the good news is that gum disease is easily treated, provided of course, that it is detected early on.

Very often, a recommendation of better ways to clean and floss your teeth may be enough to reverse this problem and failing that, a simple ‘scale and polish’ to rid the gums of hardened bacteria should do the trick.

It is only when the problem becomes more advanced that it starts to get serious. As well as receding gums which expose the roots of the teeth more, gum disease can even attack the very jawbone that the teeth are embedded in. Once it does this, the bone becomes weakened and unable to support the teeth. This inevitably leads to the loss of teeth in the affected area.

If, therefore, you do find that your gums are bleeding when your clean your teeth or they are sore, call us at Alexandra Dental Care on 01283 216347 to discuss your problem and arrange a consultation with one of our dentists to ensure early treatment is carried out as soon as possible.

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