Gum Disease: The Most Common Dental Problem Most People Don’t Know They Have
Gum disease is one of the most prevalent health conditions in Australia. Research suggests that around half of adults have some form of it — yet because it’s often painless in its early stages, many people are genuinely unaware until the problem is more advanced.
Understanding what gum disease is, how it develops and what can be done about it is worth a few minutes of anyone’s time.
What is gum disease?
Gum disease (periodontal disease) is an infection of the tissues that support the teeth — the gums, the ligament connecting teeth to bone, and the underlying jawbone itself.
It begins as gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums caused by the accumulation of bacterial plaque along and below the gumline. At this stage, the gums may be red, swollen and bleed when brushed — but the underlying bone is not yet affected, and the condition is fully reversible with proper treatment and improved home care.
Left unaddressed, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, where the infection spreads below the gumline. The body’s inflammatory response to the bacteria begins breaking down the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place. This is not reversible — bone that is lost does not fully regenerate — though the disease can be arrested and managed effectively.
Advanced periodontitis is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in adults. It’s also associated with systemic health conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and complications in pregnancy, making it a whole-body concern, not just a dental one.
What are the symptoms?
The frustrating thing about gum disease is that it can progress significantly without causing obvious pain. Signs to be aware of include:
- Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
- Gums that appear red, swollen or puffy rather than pink and firm
- Persistent bad breath that doesn’t resolve with brushing
- Gums that appear to be pulling away from the teeth (recession)
- Teeth that feel loose or have shifted position
- Sensitivity at the gum line
Bleeding when brushing is perhaps the most commonly dismissed sign. Many people assume that bleeding gums are caused by brushing “too hard” and respond by brushing less. In reality, healthy gums don’t bleed from normal brushing. Bleeding is a sign of inflammation, and the response should be to brush and floss more carefully, not less — combined with a dental assessment.
What causes it?
Gum disease is fundamentally caused by bacterial plaque — the soft, sticky film that forms on teeth and needs to be disrupted daily through brushing and flossing. When plaque is not consistently removed, it calcifies into calculus (tartar), which provides a rough surface for further bacterial accumulation and cannot be removed by brushing alone.
Certain factors increase susceptibility:
- Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors. It reduces blood flow to the gums and masks the bleeding that might otherwise prompt someone to seek care — meaning smokers often have more advanced disease before it’s detected.
- Diabetes (particularly poorly controlled) increases susceptibility to infection, and gum disease in turn makes blood sugar harder to control — a bidirectional relationship.
- Genetics plays a role. Some people are more prone to gum disease despite good oral hygiene practices.
- Medications that cause dry mouth or gum overgrowth can contribute.
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause a temporary increase in gum sensitivity and inflammation.
- Stress is associated with poorer immune response and often correlates with poorer self-care habits.
How is it treated?
Gingivitis responds well to a thorough professional clean combined with consistent home care. With proper brushing, flossing and regular maintenance visits, gingivitis is entirely reversible.
Periodontitis requires more involved treatment. The first line is usually a procedure called scaling and root planing (sometimes called a “deep clean”), where calculus is removed from below the gumline and the root surfaces are smoothed to make it harder for bacteria to adhere. This is typically done in sections with local anaesthetic.
Following active treatment, ongoing maintenance appointments — often every three to four months rather than the standard six — are important to keep the disease stable. In more advanced cases, referral to a specialist periodontist may be appropriate.
What you can do at home
Professional treatment addresses what’s already established. Day-to-day maintenance is what keeps it from progressing.
Brushing technique matters more than brushing time. A soft-bristled brush angled at 45 degrees to the gumline, using gentle circular or back-and-forth strokes, is more effective than scrubbing firmly with a medium or hard brush (which can damage gum tissue and enamel).
Flossing is non-negotiable for gum health. Roughly a third of each tooth’s surface is between teeth, where a toothbrush cannot reach. If flossing is uncomfortable or your gums bleed consistently when you floss, that’s a sign they need attention — not a reason to stop.
Interdental brushes (small brushes designed to clean between teeth) are often more effective than floss for people with larger gaps or gum recession.
An electric toothbrush is worth considering if you’ve been told your brushing technique needs improvement. Oscillating-rotating electric brushes have been shown in research to reduce plaque and gingivitis more effectively than manual brushing for most people.
If you’ve noticed any of the symptoms mentioned above, or it’s been more than six months since your last check-up, it’s worth having your gum health assessed. Stewart Road Dental has been caring for Brisbane’s inner-north for over 80 years.