Nearly everyone suffers from gum (periodontal) disease during his or her lifetime. In fact, gum disease accounts for more lost teeth in adults than decay and trauma put together! It's the commonest disease we suffer from. Most denture wearers have lost teeth due to gum disease and nearly every denture wearer would much rather have their own natural teeth.
The signs of gum disease include swollen and bleeding gums, loose teeth and bad breath. However many people have gum disease even though none of these signs are obvious. If left untreated it can lead to the loss of support for the teeth so that eventually they loosen and become painful. Often abscesses flare up and at this stage there is little else that can be done other than taking the teeth out.
Gum disease, like tooth decay (dental caries), is caused by plaque. Plaque is a soft, whitish-yellow substrate made up of millions of bacteria, whim forms as a coating over the teeth. Because it is tooth coloured it is difficult to see until it is quite thick. Plaque is soft but calcium and other salts may combine with it to make a hard layer of tartar or calculus. This can only be removed by your dentist or dental hygienist.
