We are very much into preventing gum disease here at Harley Street Dental Clinic, your dental clinic in W1. We have seen the terrible effects untreated gum disease can have on the gums, teeth and jawbone and we greatly encourage all our patients to have a good and disciplined oral health routine to keep gum disease at bay.
One part of that is coming to our dental clinic in W1 for check-ups and sessions with the hygienist to remove any build-up of tartar and plaque. It is the acids from these that attack the gums and the bone below them, eventually resulting in the loosening and loss of teeth.
But gum disease not only affects the gums and bone, it also has links to serious, life threatening illnesses, such as cancer and Alzheimer’s, particularly among women.
National Smile Month 2018 highlights how gum disease affects women.
Pregnancy gingivitis
Pregnant women are particularly prone to developing gum disease, due to higher than normal levels of progesterone in their mouths. This is why we like pregnant women to come to us a bit more often for check-ups and plaque removal.
Later on
Gum disease is a long, progressive problem. If it’s not caught in the early stages of gingivitis, when it’s inflaming and irritating the gums, causing them to become swollen and to bleed easily, it progresses to attacking the bone under the gums, loosening the teeth and eventually causing them to fall out. This can take years and at this stage, it takes a lot more treatment to stop gum disease.
Cancer and dementia
According to National Smile Month, new research studying data from 65,000 post-menopausal women, aged 54-86, found that those who had a history of gum disease had a higher chance of developing cancer, with one in three developing breast cancer. Women with healthy gums were 70% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those who had had gum disease for years.
Your regime
You can avoid gum disease by brushing twice a day with a soft to medium bristled brush, flossing and coming for check-ups and hygienist sessions at the dental clinic in W1.