Does gum disease go away?

Gum disease is very a common condition and affects most adults at some point in their lifetime. It can be quite distressing and with early symptoms of swollen and red gums, and potential bleeding after brushing. The early stage is commonly known as Gingivitis. It's also possible that it's painless and to be unaware that you have it.

Sometimes, gum disease can reach an advanced stage, with symptoms of bad breath, difficulty eating and abscesses.  We recognise that this condition can be embarrassing and make you feel self-conscious to smile and be social, however, there are solutions available to you. 

Causes of Gum Disease

A number of factors contribute to gum disease, the most common being poor oral hygiene such as bad brushing techniques causing plaque. Other risks include smoking, stress, chemotherapy and diabetes. 

How can you treat Gum Disease?

The optimal way to deal with the condition is to brush your teeth properly and practise good oral hygiene. This should clear up milder cases. 

To practise oral hygiene properly, brush your teeth for 2 minutes before and after going to bed, using either electric or manual toothbrushes. Stopping smoking will also help, and also using the correct toothpaste with the right amount of fluoride. Lastly, visit your dentist at least once per year.

Dental treatments are also available. With a scale and polish, you can remove hardened plaque build on the teeth. A professional clean will scrape away this, then polish your teeth to remove marks and stains.

In more advanced cases, deeper cleaning called Root Planning that removes bacteria from the root of your teeth. Other surgery options are also available such as periodontal surgery or even tooth removal for the most advanced cases.

You can also treat gum disease with antibiotics such as amoxicillin although this can come with side effects such as feeling sick.

You can also try Painkillers such as paracetamol if you are in discomfort. 

Lastly, you can try using high street off the shelf mouthwash, but remember to read the instructions as many require dilution with water. You can read more about mouthwash types on our blog.

Its possible Gum Disease can go away by itself, particularly in mild cases, however, we would strongly recommend using good oral hygiene techniques as this will help improve outcomes.

At Churchlane Dental, we offer a variety of gum disease treatments and advice for long term good oral hygiene.