Gum disease treatment in Edgware

Gum disease treatment at Toothi London starts with an assessment at your check-up (£55), where we measure your gum pockets and take x-rays if needed (£15 each). Gingivitis is usually reversible with a professional clean – hygiene therapy is £70, or £125 with Airflow – and better brushing at home. Periodontitis needs deeper cleaning below the gum, quoted in writing after assessment. The earlier gum disease is found, the simpler it usually is to manage.

Gum disease is inflammation of the tissues that support your teeth, caused mainly by the bacteria in plaque. It has two main stages.

Not everyone with gingivitis goes on to develop periodontitis, but periodontitis always starts as gingivitis. That is why we take bleeding gums seriously, even when they don’t hurt.

Gum disease often doesn’t hurt in its early stages, so many people don’t know they have it. Look out for:

• ✓  Bleeding gums. Blood when you brush or floss, or on your pillow. Our guide to bleeding gums explains the common causes.
• ✓  Red, swollen or tender gums. Healthy gums are usually pale pink and firm.
• ✓  Bad breath or a bad taste. Persistent bad breath that doesn’t go away with brushing.
• ✓  Gums pulling back. Teeth looking longer, or new sensitivity at the gum line. See receding gums.
• ✓  Loose or moving teeth. Teeth that feel loose, have new gaps, or a bite that feels different.
• ✓  Gum abscess. A painful swelling on the gum, sometimes with pus.

Plaque is the main cause. If it isn’t removed every day, it hardens into tartar, which only a dental professional can remove. Several factors make gum disease more likely or more severe:

• ✓  Plaque and tartar. Bacteria at and below the gum line trigger inflammation.
• ✓  Smoking and vaping. Smoking is one of the strongest risk factors. It can also hide bleeding, so gum disease may go unnoticed.
• ✓  Diabetes. Poorly controlled diabetes raises the risk, and gum disease can make blood sugar harder to control.
• ✓  Genetics. Some people are more susceptible, so a family history of early tooth loss is worth mentioning.
• ✓  Other factors. Stress, hormonal changes including pregnancy, some medicines, and crowded teeth or old restorations that are hard to clean.

Your gums are checked at every check-up. The dentist gently measures the small space between each tooth and the gum (the pocket) with a fine probe. Healthy pockets are shallow. Deeper pockets, bleeding and gum recession are recorded on a gum chart, so we can track changes over time.

If the chart suggests periodontitis, x-rays (£15 each) show how much bone support remains. Using these findings, we explain the stage of disease and agree a plan with you.

Treatment follows recognised stages. Not everyone needs every stage.

Read more about our hygiene appointments and how they differ from deep cleaning.

Professional cleaning helps, but daily care is what keeps gums healthy:

• ✓  Brush twice a day for two minutes. Angle the brush towards the gum line. An electric toothbrush helps many people.
• ✓  Clean between your teeth every day. Interdental brushes are usually more effective than floss where the gaps allow. We can show you which sizes to use.
• ✓  Spit, don’t rinse. Leave fluoride toothpaste on your teeth after brushing.
• ✓  Stop smoking. This greatly improves how gums respond to treatment. Your GP or pharmacist can help.

Bleeding often increases for a few days when you start cleaning properly, then settles as the gums heal. Keep going.

Periodontitis is a long-term condition, much like diabetes. Once stable, most people need regular hygiene appointments, often every three to six months, to keep it under control. Your dentist sets the interval based on how your gums respond.

Some cases are best managed by a registered specialist periodontist. We refer on when disease is advanced or aggressive, when it is not responding to treatment, or when surgical gum treatment may be needed. We explain why and you are under no obligation.

When to get urgent help: a painful gum swelling needs a prompt dental appointment – call 020 3148 2444. Swelling spreading across the face or neck, affecting breathing, swallowing or the eye, or a high temperature, needs A&E or 999. Out of hours, call NHS 111.