Gum care preventative education services Chesterfield & Matlock

For most people, we recommend twice-yearly visits to our dental hygiene team, but this can be increased to four yearly visits if there is a history of gum disease or dental implants. Regular visits will help prevent gum disease and tooth decay from occurring while keeping your teeth looking and feeling great.

Periodontitis (gum disease) is one of the most common diseases in Europe and affects one in every two adults over 30. In its initial stages, it is also referred to as gingivitis, which, if left untreated, can advance into periodontitis.

Gum disease is most commonly caused by bacteria in the mouth, which results in a build-up of plaque or biofilm. It can also be exacerbated or accelerated by other risk factors like smoking, hormonal changes such as pregnancy, stress, some medications, diabetes, heart disease, and genetics.

In its earliest stages, gum disease can be symptom-free, and you might be completely unaware of its presence. This is why regular dental check-ups and hygiene appointments are so important. In more advanced stages, you might experience the following:

• Bleeding gums
• Change in colour of the gums to dusky purple or bright red
• Receding gums
• Increased sensitivity
• Toothache

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and as a preventive care practice, we want to avoid the loss of a natural tooth wherever and whenever possible. Gum disease has also been linked to wider health issues such as diabetes and heart disease.

Your treatment plan will depend on the stage of the disease and will be bespoke to you. Once we have diagnosed the type and stage of the disease, we’ll be able to form a treatment plan that saves the natural tooth and prevents the disease from progressing.