{"id":2013,"date":"2025-06-19T12:03:47","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T12:03:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clocktowerdental.com\/blog\/?p=2013"},"modified":"2025-06-19T12:03:47","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T12:03:47","slug":"treatment-options-in-epsom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clocktowerdental.com\/blog\/gum-disease\/treatment-options-in-epsom\/","title":{"rendered":"Gum Disease Symptoms and Treatments"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Helping Epsom patients maintain a healthy mouth.<\/h2>\n<p>Gum disease is one of the most common oral health issues in the UK \u2014 and one of the most preventable. At our dental practice, we believe in helping our patients recognise the early signs and stages of gum disease so they can take action before it causes significant issues.<\/p>\n<p>Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease can range from mild gum irritation to serious infections that threaten your teeth and even your general health. In this article, we\u2019ll take a closer look at the symptoms, causes, and treatment options available \u2014 and how Clocktower Dental, Implant &amp; Facial Centre can support you in keeping your gums healthy for life.<\/p>\n<h3>What Is Gum Disease?<\/h3>\n<p>Gum disease is a bacterial infection of the gums that surround and support the teeth. It initially begins with plaque \u2014 a soft, sticky film that builds up around the teeth and contains millions of bacteria. If not removed with regular brushing and flossing, this plaque hardens into tartar (calculus), which can\u2019t be removed by home cleaning.<\/p>\n<p>Over time, the bacteria in plaque and tartar inflame the gums, leading to a disease that may eventually damage the bone supporting your teeth.<\/p>\n<h3>There are two main stages of gum disease:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Gingivitis \u2013 The earliest stage, where gums become red, swollen, and bleed easily. It is usually\u00a0 reversible with good hygiene and professional cleaning.<\/li>\n<li>Periodontitis \u2013 A more advanced stage, where the infection spreads beneath the gum line and begins to destroy the bone and connective tissue. This can lead to loose teeth and, eventually, tooth loss.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Common Symptoms of Gum Disease<\/h3>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>One of the problems with gum disease is that it often progresses silently. That\u2019s why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clocktowerdental.com\/\">regular dental check-ups<\/a> are so important \u2014 your Epsom dentist or hygienist can often detect early signs long before you notice them yourself.<\/p>\n<p>There are several symptoms to watch out for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Red, swollen or tender gums<\/li>\n<li>Bleeding when brushing or flossing<\/li>\n<li>Persistent bad breath (halitosis)<\/li>\n<li>Receding gums<\/li>\n<li>Loose or shifting teeth<\/li>\n<li>A change in your bite<\/li>\n<li>Pain when chewing<\/li>\n<li>Pus between your teeth and gums<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Even if these symptoms are mild, they should never be ignored. The earlier gum disease is caught, the easier it is to treat.<\/p>\n<h3>What Causes Gum Disease?<\/h3>\n<p>The primary cause is poor oral hygiene \u2014 not brushing and flossing effectively allows plaque to build up. But other factors can increase your risk:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Smoking or tobacco use<\/li>\n<li>Diabetes<\/li>\n<li>Hormonal changes (such as pregnancy or menopause)<\/li>\n<li>Certain medications (including some that reduce saliva flow)<\/li>\n<li>Genetics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Understanding your personal risk factors is an important step in prevention.<\/p>\n<h3>How Is Gum Disease Treated?<\/h3>\n<p>The treatment you\u2019ll need depends on how advanced the gum disease is. Here\u2019s what you can expect:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Professional Cleaning\u00a0 &#8211; In cases of gingivitis, a thorough scale and polish with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clocktowerdental.com\/surrey-dental-hygienist.html\">your dental hygienist<\/a> may be all that\u2019s required. This removes plaque and tartar from your teeth and along the gum line.<\/li>\n<li>Improved Oral Hygiene &#8211; We\u2019ll show you how to clean more effectively at home \u2014 including brushing technique, flossing, and using tools like interdental brushes.<\/li>\n<li>Root Planing (Deep Cleaning) &#8211; For periodontitis, root planing is often necessary. This deep-cleaning procedure removes bacteria from the roots of the teeth and smooths the surfaces to discourage future plaque build-up.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3>How to Prevent Gum Disease<\/h3>\n<p>The best treatment is prevention \u2014 and the good news is, most cases of gum disease are completely avoidable with the right habits.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Brush twice daily using a fluoride toothpaste<\/li>\n<li>Clean between your teeth daily using floss or interdental brushes.<\/li>\n<li>Visit your dentist and hygienist regularly \u2014 at least every six months, or more often if recommended.<\/li>\n<li>Avoid tobacco products.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>At our dental clinic, we take a preventive approach and aim to educate and help you to look after your gums every day.<\/p>\n<h3>Why Early Action Matters<\/h3>\n<p>Untreated gum disease isn\u2019t just a dental problem \u2014 it\u2019s been linked to wider health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Taking gum health seriously is a powerful step toward better overall health.<\/p>\n<h3>Supporting Gum Health in Epsom<\/h3>\n<p>At our dental clinic, we\u2019re proud to offer a full range of preventive and restorative services to support your gum health. From gentle hygiene visits to advanced periodontal care, we\u2019re committed to making your treatment comfortable, effective, and stress-free.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve noticed signs of gum disease \u2014 or if it\u2019s just been a while since your last check-up \u2014 don\u2019t wait. Get in touch with us today by calling us on <strong>01372 720136<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Helping Epsom patients maintain a healthy mouth. Gum disease is one of the most common oral health issues in the UK \u2014 and one of the most preventable. At our dental practice, we believe in helping our patients recognise the &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clocktowerdental.com\/blog\/gum-disease\/treatment-options-in-epsom\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Gum Disease Symptoms and Treatments<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1491,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gum-disease"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.clocktowerdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2013","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.clocktowerdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.clocktowerdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.clocktowerdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.clocktowerdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2013"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.clocktowerdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2013\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2017,"href":"https:\/\/www.clocktowerdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2013\/revisions\/2017"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.clocktowerdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.clocktowerdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2013"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.clocktowerdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2013"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.clocktowerdental.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}