PERIODONTITIS (Gum Disease): Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
What Is Periodontitis?
Periodontitis is a form of advanced gum disease that affects the structures supporting your teeth, including:
Gums
Bone
Periodontal ligaments
You may be more familiar with gingivitis, which is the early stage of gum disease.
👉 The key difference:
Gingivitis = inflammation of the gums (reversible)
Periodontitis = deeper inflammation affecting bone and support (can cause permanent damage)
Gingivitis vs Periodontitis
Both fall under “gum disease,” but they are very different in impact:
Gingivitis
Red, inflamed gums
Bleeding when brushing
Fully reversible with proper care
Periodontitis
Infection beneath the gum
Loss of bone support
Gum “pockets” forming around teeth
Can lead to tooth loss if untreated
👉 Important:
Gingivitis always comes before periodontitis—but not all gingivitis progresses
What Causes Periodontitis?
Periodontitis is multifactorial, meaning several factors contribute, including:
Plaque and bacteria
Smoking
Genetics
Stress
General health conditions
How Do You Know If You Have It?
Here’s the tricky part:
👉 Early periodontitis is often painless
Many patients have:
No discomfort
No obvious symptoms
It is usually detected through:
Gum health checks
Pocket measurements
Dental X-rays
Signs to Look Out For
Bleeding gums (not always present)
Bad breath
Gum recession
Loose teeth
Changes in bite
Why Smokers May Not Notice It
Interestingly, smokers often show:
Less bleeding gums
But more severe disease progression
One explanation is the vasoconstriction theory (reduced blood flow due to nicotine), which may:
Mask early warning signs
Reduce healing
Increase bone loss
Why Prevention Is Everything
You’ve heard it before—but it’s especially true here:
👉 Prevention is better than cure
At OHH, we recommend:
Regular hygiene visits (typically every 3 months)
Early intervention
Ongoing monitoring
Because:
👉 Prevention is not expensive—neglect is
What Happens at Your Hygiene Visit?
At OHH, your visit includes:
Full Soft Tissue Check
Can help highlight:
Gum disease
Oral cancer signs
Other systemic health indicators
Gum (Pocket) Measurements
Healthy gums sit around the tooth at:
2–3mm depth
Deeper measurements may indicate:
Infection
Periodontal pockets
Disease progression
Your Personalised Treatment Plan
Every case of periodontitis is different.
Your treatment is based on:
Pocket measurements
Severity
Number of teeth affected
Your goals and preferences
Treatment for Periodontitis
1. Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy (Gold Standard)
This is always the first step and includes:
Deep cleaning below the gum line
Removal of bacteria and deposits
Targeted treatment of infected areas
👉 This is something I provide at OHH.
2. Review & Next Steps
Your response to treatment determines:
Maintenance care
Or referral (if needed)
Specialists (including hospital departments) usually require:
👉 Non-surgical treatment first before accepting referrals
Comfort Comes First at OHH
Many patients worry about discomfort—but this is where experience matters.
At OHH:
Treatments are gentle and controlled
Numbing gels are available
Local anaesthetic can be used if needed
👉 In many cases, neither is required
My Experience in Periodontics
Before OHH, I worked in the Periodontology Department at Glasgow Dental Hospital, treating advanced gum disease daily.
This included:
Supporting surgical treatments
Delivering non-surgical therapy
Managing complex cases
👉 Periodontitis isn’t just part of what I do—it’s a core expertise.
Whole Health – Not Just Oral Health
Gum disease doesn’t just affect your mouth.
It has been linked to wider health concerns, including:
Inflammation in the body
Systemic health conditions
At OHH, we always take a whole health approach.
No Judgement. Just Support.
If you’re worried about your gums—or haven’t been in a while:
You are always welcome.
👉 No judgement
👉 No lectures
👉 Just education, support, and tailored care
Ready to Take Control of Your Gum Health?
👉 Book your Ohh! Flow Hygiene Appointment
Let’s:
Protect your teeth
Stabilise your gums
Keep your smile strong and healthy
Stay Fabulous, Always
Your smile is worth protecting—and we’re here to help you do just that.
Jacqui x
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