Gum Health

Gum (periodontal) health is all about keeping the foundations of your mouth in good shape. The periodontal tissues include the gum tissues you see in your mouth, the elastic fibres which hold the gum tightly around the teeth. These fibres go between the gum and the underlying bone which holds the teeth in the jawbone. These fibres absorb the forces  and act as cushioning when we eat, chew, clench and grind our teeth. The biggest difference between a natural tooth and a dental implant is that these ‘cushioning’ fibres aren’t present. The implant is placed directly into the jaw bone with the gum around the tooth acting as a collar around the crown part of the implant. This is why oral hygiene to control the bacterial plaque biofilm especially around the gum line, is key to both gum and implant health. It is the door for bacteria in the plaque biofilm to get under the gum margins and breakdown gum tissue and bone which can result in tooth  and implant loss. Healthy gums don’t bleed. Learn more about cleaning the gum line and gum pockets.