Dursley dentists at Castle Gate Dental Practice warn patients not to ignore gum disease
If you suffer from gums that bleed when you brush them, bad breath or bad tastes in your mouth, or loose or drifting teeth, it is most likely you are suffering from gum disease.
A staggering 90 per cent of us suffer from gum disease at some point in our lives but with good dental care the risks can be easily controlled, say the dentists and dental hygienists at Castle Gate Dental Practice near Stroud.
We always advise our patients from across Dursley, Stroud and Cam never to ignore gum disease because scientific research has found links between severe gum disease and general health conditions such as diabetes, strokes, cardiovascular disease, poor pregnancy outcomes and even dementia. So, it goes without saying that the importance of looking after the health of our gums through a good oral hygiene routine and regular visits is even more important than ever.
Recent coverage in the news found there is a lack of evidence that using dental floss is beneficial to oral health, but leading health charity, the Oral Health Foundation, has highlighted the continued importance of regular interdental cleaning.
Dr Nigel Carter OBE, of the Oral Health Foundation said: “Brushing alone only cleans three of the five surfaces of our teeth, so cleaning between our teeth is a critical part of good oral hygiene as it helps to prevent gum disease by removing plaque from areas the toothbrush alone cannot reach.
“For some time the recommendation in the UK has been to use interdental brushes rather than floss as the evidence for their effectiveness is stronger. Interdental cleaning removes the plaque from in between the teeth, which is the area where most dental decay and gum disease starts.
“There is no suggestion that flossing can be damaging to oral health, just limited evidence as to its effectiveness. If you’re flossing, and you’re flossing well, it will cause no harm and it is probably not advisable to give up but you might want to try interdental brushes as an alternative.”
Always ask the advice of your Dursley dentist or hygienist as to what is best for your mouth and we will also be able to tell you how effective you are in your cleaning.
Regular dental and hygiene visits will help ensure you and your children’s smiles stay healthy for life, so don’t put off your next appointment, contact Castle Gate Dental in Gloucestershire today to book. Our door is always open to new patients and emergency patients. We look forward to meeting you and your family soon.
