Dentist near Caraban

Signs of gum disease

Gum disease is common, and it's often painless in the early stages, so it's easy to miss. Things to look out for:

• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss
• Red, puffy or tender gums
• Bad breath or a bad taste that doesn't go away
• Gums pulling back, so your teeth look longer
• Teeth that feel loose, or a bite that feels different

Smoking and diabetes both raise the risk, and can hide the bleeding that would otherwise warn you. If any of these sound familiar, book a check-up.

What treatment involves

Early gum disease (gingivitis) can usually be turned around with a professional clean and better brushing and flossing at home. We'll show you what to focus on.

If it's gone further (periodontitis), we'll measure the gaps between your gums and teeth and may suggest a deeper clean below the gumline, usually over one or two visits with the area numbed. After that, more regular cleans help keep it under control. If you need a specialist, we'll explain why and arrange the referral.

If it's been a few years

Living out of town, check-ups are easy to put off. You won't get a lecture. Tell us when you booked last, and we'll start with a full check-up, take any X-rays we need, and go through what we find and what it would cost before anything else happens.

Only a few dozen people live in Caraban, so make the trip count: book the household back-to-back, and ask for a Saturday if weekdays are hard.

Getting here from Caraban

1. Take Barragoon Road east to Indian Ocean Drive.
2. Turn right onto Indian Ocean Drive and head south for about 16 km, through the Wilbinga forest.
3. Turn right onto Breakwater Drive into Two Rocks.
4. Turn into Constellation Entrance at the roundabout on Breakwater Drive — we're at number 6.

Questions from Caraban