Causes

Gum disease causes include:
● Poor oral hygiene habits● Illness (such as cancer, HIV or diabetes)● Smoking● Genetics● Medication● Hormonal changes due to menstruation, pregnancy or the menopause

Symptoms

Some of the symptoms of gum disease include:
-Bleeding gums-Tender, red or swollen gums-Ongoing bad breath or foul taste in the mouth-Deep pockets between the teeth-Loose teeth

Gum Disease Treatment

The treatment of gum disease is focused on encouraging the teeth to reattach to the gums, to reduce the size of the gaps between teeth, the swelling, the risk of infection and to prevent the condition from spreading. Specific treatments for gum disease can range from cleaning by a hygienist to scaling and root planing to remove plaque and tartar from both above and below the gum line. This removes all the bacteria and provides a clean surface for the gums to reattach to.
Advance signs of gum disease may require surgical treatment that can include flap surgery (a more in depth version of planing and scaling) to bone and soft tissue grafts to encourage bone and tissue regrowth, respectively, and guided tissue or bone regeneration. This is often required when the loose tooth is at risk of falling out. Finally, antibiotics can be used to treat gum disease as well.

Gum Disease Prevention

The best way to prevent gum disease is to follow a good oral hygiene routine that includes brushing and flossing at least twice a day. Antimicrobial toothpaste alongside a suitable mouthwash will also help to remove any bacteria that may be present.
Regular visits to your hygienist as part of your dental check-up are also an important part of preventing gum disease.