Gum
Treatment

Some signs point to gum disease that has progressed beyond the early stage into periodontitis, where the infection has started to affect the bone and tissues that hold your teeth in place. These include persistent bad breath or a bad taste, gums that are receding or pulling away from the teeth, teeth that feel loose or have started to drift, and gaps opening up between them. A gum abscess, which is a painful collection of pus in the gum, also needs prompt attention. If you notice any of these, it is worth being seen sooner rather than later, as more advanced cases may need deeper cleaning below the gumline and, occasionally, periodontal surgery. At our practice, these cases can be managed by our periodontist, Dr Muataz Osman, who specialises in treating gum and bone problems.

Treatment depends on how far the gum disease has progressed, and it follows a step-by-step approach. The foundation for almost everyone is thorough professional cleaning combined with guidance on your daily oral hygiene, since keeping plaque under control at home is what makes any treatment last. For early gum disease, a scale and polish to remove plaque and tartar, along with better brushing and cleaning between the teeth, is often enough. Where the disease has reached below the gumline, the next step is a deeper clean of the root surfaces, known as root surface debridement or root planing. Addressing risk factors matters too, such as stopping smoking and, for people with diabetes, keeping it well controlled.

Root planing, also called root surface debridement, is a deep clean that goes below the gumline to remove plaque, tartar and bacteria from the surfaces of the tooth roots, which cannot be reached by ordinary brushing or a standard scale and polish. When gum disease has advanced, small pockets form between the gum and the tooth, and bacteria collect and multiply in them. Cleaning these root surfaces thoroughly helps the inflammation settle and gives the gum a chance to tighten back against the tooth. A local anaesthetic is often used to keep you comfortable, since the cleaning reaches below the gum, and the treatment may be carried out over more than one appointment depending on how many areas need attention.

It varies a good deal depending on how advanced the gum disease is. Early gingivitis often improves within a few weeks of a professional clean and better home care, and may only need one or two visits. More advanced periodontitis usually takes longer, with root surface debridement sometimes spread across several appointments, followed by a review to check how the gums have responded. It is worth understanding that gum treatment is not a one-off fix but the start of ongoing care. Once things are stable, regular maintenance visits with the dentist or hygienist keep the disease in check, because the aim is to control it and protect your teeth for the long term rather than simply treat it once and move on.

Yes, it can, and understanding why helps you stay ahead of it. This comes down to the difference between the two stages. Gingivitis, the early form, is fully reversible and can be cleared completely with good cleaning. Periodontitis, the more advanced form, is different: the bone and tissue lost around the teeth do not grow back, so rather than being cured, it is controlled and kept stable. That means once you have had periodontitis, you remain more prone to it, and it can flare up again if plaque is allowed to build back up. The good news is that it is very manageable. A consistent home routine of brushing and cleaning between the teeth, not smoking, and keeping up your maintenance appointments are what keep it under control and your teeth in place for years to come.