It’s easy to overlook your gums, until something goes wrong. It’s so easy to get focussed on making sure your teeth are clean and looking great that the gums fade into the background and become merely the landscape against which your teeth are attractively displayed. But when you come to the dentist in W1, we know that having healthy gums plays a vital role in having healthy teeth. That’s why when you have a check-up at Harley Street Dental Clinic, we will be as interested in the health of your gums as we are in your teeth.
What are gums for anyway?
Gums, those easy-to-miss pinkish things that your teeth grow out of, have an important role to play in your mouth. They surround and cushion your teeth and help support them in biting and chewing. It’s only when your gums become inflamed and pull away from the teeth, or start to recede, that you will realise just how important they are. Without good gums, your teeth can start to wobble around.
When you come for a check-up with the dentist in W1, you will feel us poking gently at your gums with one of our instruments. We are looking to see if your gums are inflamed, or bleed easily, or if they are pulling away from your teeth. The gums should create a tight seal around the base of your teeth. This seal prevents bacteria from sneaking in to proliferate in your jawbone.
Bacteria and gum disease
You have no doubt heard of bacterial plaque, a sticky film that builds up on your teeth. It is what you are getting rid of when you brush and floss. These bacteria give off acids that attack the gums, causing inflammation and bleeding.
The early stages of gum disease, called gingivitis, can be easily treated with a good oral health routine. The later stages, however, are much harder to get rid of. Bacteria get under your gums and the acids they give off attack your jawbone. That’s when your teeth start to wobble and fall out.
Make sure you have regular check-ups with the dentist in W1 and hang onto your teeth.