We all know how important it is to look after our teeth but how many of us pay enough attention to our gums? The fact is that gum disease is actually a greater cause of tooth loss than tooth decay itself. Many people in the UK have some form of gum disease and don’t even know about it, but it is worth dealing with so that it can’t progress into something much worse than just a bit of sensitivity in the mouth.

One of the least pleasant aspects of suffering from gum disease is that bad breath – or halitosis – can occur. The emission of unpleasant smells from the mouth can make social situations that bit more awkward and can lead to embarrassment and even withdrawal. Who wants to be covering their mouth at a wedding or business meeting?

Gum disease is usually caused by a build up of plaque on the gum line of teeth, which causes the gum to become infected. This will manifest itself in greater sensitivity when eating and drinking and a change in the colour of your gums from a healthy pink to more of a red colour. Bad breath might be another symptom too.

If you have bad breath it is best to get your mouth examined by a trained professional to see if gum disease is the cause. Gum disease can usually be rectified by tightening up your home oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing as recommended by your dentist. Sometimes special mouth washes can be used or it might simply be that a certain food you eat a lot of is causing halitosis.

Talk to your West London dentist for more advice about halitosis and gum disease.