Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums caused by the build-up of plaque — a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth every day. It is extremely common: most adults will experience it at some point. It's also the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, yet in its early stages it's usually painless, so many people don't know they have it.
Gums become red, puffy and bleed when you brush or floss. At this stage the damage is fully reversible with better cleaning and professional care.
If gingivitis is left untreated, the inflammation spreads below the gum line and starts to destroy the bone supporting your teeth. Gums recede, teeth can become loose and may eventually be lost. Bone loss cannot be reversed — but with treatment it can be stopped.
Smoking (which also hides the bleeding, masking the disease), diabetes, stress, some medications, pregnancy hormones and family history all increase risk. Smokers are significantly more likely to lose teeth to gum disease — see our team for smoking cessation support.
Treatment centres on professional cleaning (scale and polish) to remove plaque and hardened tartar above and below the gum line, combined with a tailored home-care routine. Most early gum disease resolves completely with this approach. More advanced cases need deeper cleaning over several visits and ongoing maintenance.
Worried about your gums? Call us on 0141 554 0499.
Call our friendly reception team — we'll do everything we can to help.
