Gum Disease Treatment Liverpool

Have you got Liverpool’s most common disease?  It’s a disease that makes your breath smell, mouth bleed and if left untreated can cause your teeth to fall out.  It’s a disease that increases the risk of heart disease, premature birth, cancer, depression, dementia and obesity.  It’s a disease that’s carried (in some form) by a staggering three out of four adults over 35 here in Liverpool.      

It’s Gum Disease.

Here’s one of our Dental Hygiene Therapists, Paula Reed talking Gum Disease:
https://youtu.be/DYzM922Hcjk

The latest NHS statistics  tell us that and over 3/4 of adults over 35 have gingivitis or periodontal disease and 95% of individuals in Liverpool will suffer from some form of gum disease in their lifetimes.  Worryingly, children are more and more at risk of gum disease and decay in Liverpool and we have the highest incidence of children under 5 with decay out of the entire uk.

These statistics are worrying but that doesn’t mean that you need to be part of them.  Dental Hygiene Therapists say ‘gum disease is treated at home’ which means that simply brushing your teeth, using Tepe brushes or floss and maintaining a good oral hygiene routine (including trips to the hygienist) will keep your gums and teeth healthy for your entire life.  

The success rate for gum disease treatment is extremely high at Smileworks and we help dozens of patients feel great about their smile each month.

Call the office today and speak to a member of the team about getting an appointment with either of our hygiene therapists.  It’s never too late to start thinking about a healthy smile and there’s no problem that can’t be fixed by our expert team.  Here at Smileworks we love treating gum disease because it means developing great relationships with our patients and watching your confidence and happiness increase as your smile and health improves. It also means that teeth can be saved from requiring extraction. More about how gum disease can lead to extraction if untreated here: Tooth Extractions Liverpool.

If you have tooth decay then you may need a tooth filled and we offer composite tooth filling at Smileworks.  If you are in more severe pain then follow the link here to our dedicated page abut root canal treatment.

4.9

Based on 1741 reviews

Amazing experience and results, Dr Khalid and Jo went above and beyond to make sure I was happy with my results and really looked out for me, I went in for the teeth whitening treatment &cleaning and my teeth are finally white , am now very confident in my smile which is not something I ever thought I’d say. Highly recommend if you’re on the fence, it was definitely worth it.The difference was massive, quick and painless (tiny bit of sensitivity but extremely manageable)

nour al D.

15:37 28 Jan 26

After having a very bad experience with another orthodontic practice in the city, I went to Smileworks to help improve my smile. I had been to Smileworks before and knew I could trust them as I was left feeling devastated with my results from the other practice. I was left with massive gaps after braces from the other practice, my bottom teeth were chipped, and I needed 8 teeth bonding. Paula and Steph have been absolutely amazing through this whole 3 month journey. I have been treated with such dignity and respect, they have been nothing but kind and informative. Paula talked me through my whole treatment plan step by step and explained in-depth what was going to happen at every appointment. I had a thorough hygiene appointment, whitening, and finally the composite bonding that has been life changing for me. I have also been scanned for new retainers! I cannot stop smiling and looking at my teeth. I was a little anxious before my bonding appointment but Paula made me feel very calm by explaining the whole process and offering breaks if needed, she regularly checked on me throughout and it went so much quicker than I expected. It didn’t hurt and wasn’t even slightly uncomfortable. I will continue to go to Smileworks as they have provided me with a service I can trust, after having poor dental/orthodontic experiences I feel so much better that I have found a practice I can trust with fantastic staff. Thank you so much Paula and Steph.

Steph K

14:56 06 Feb 26

I had a great experience getting my braces fitted here. I’m a very nervous patient when it comes to dental treatment, but Eduardo the dentist and Teysir the nurse were both so kind, patient and reassuring throughout the whole appointment. They really took the time to explain everything and made sure I felt comfortable the entire time. The fitting itself was smooth and much less stressful than I expected.

Beth S.

16:38 06 Mar 26

Visted the complications clinic for the second time in the last month to see Dr MJ. Wow I was blown away with her knowledge and experience, she explained so much to me in so much detail. In the past 15 years of having treatments in other clinics i have never been given so much information. What an absolutely gorgeous lady she is, I will most definitely be back for more treatments in the future. Thank you so much 😘 xx

Claire N.

05:42 05 Mar 26

I had a fantastic experience with Eduardo and his wonderful team, Steph and Helen. From the moment I walked in, they made me feel comfortable and at ease. Eduardo is professional, gentle, and takes the time to explain everything clearly. Steph and Helen are incredibly friendly, attentive, and supportive throughout the whole visit.The whole team works seamlessly together and creates such a welcoming atmosphere. I truly appreciate their care, kindness, and attention to detail. Highly recommend this amazing team!

lee f

20:36 03 Mar 26

Had an appointment with Teyha for my little boy who is 4! And the thoroughness and patience was next level! Thank you so much Teyha for helping guide him on whats important, he loves coming here! And a big thank you to Emily on the desk for being so kind to him. 🙂

Marnie S.

11:34 26 Feb 26

I had such a positive experience at Smile Works. Marnie, Rachael, Liv, and Georgie on reception were incredibly warm, patient, and welcoming from the moment I arrived. They made me feel completely comfortable, and their kindness and professionalism really stood out. It’s clear they genuinely care about their patients, and I can’t recommend Smile Works enough such a lovely, caring team.

Chris E.

20:35 24 Feb 26

Excellent service and the whole process was managed by the superb staff

David J.

17:58 24 Feb 26

Eduardo and Becca are gentle and nice. They explained clearly throughout the process. Highly recommended.

Fionn L.

17:16 23 Feb 26

The receptionist needs to be fired.Absolute shambles of a company.Took a deposit months ago for a procedure. Has no appointments at suitable times. When asked for refunds of the deposit she keeps asking for a signed refund form which she doesn’t send to us. When asked why can’t you process a refund for a procedure you can’t schedule she basically said, ‘it doesn’t work with my agenda’.Chargeback initiated because this company lacks basic customer service.

Senor E.

11:56 22 Feb 26

What is gum disease?

Gum Disease is an infection of the gums that causes them to become inflamed and red.  If left untreated, this gum infection can lead to gum recession and also attack the bone, ligaments and structures that support your teeth causing them to become loose and eventually fall out.  Gum disease also causes you to have unpleasant smelling breath.  Gum disease is exacerbated by smoking and certain ‘dry mouth medications’.  The biofilms that cause gum disease are sticky layers of bacteria on the teeth and are best removed by our brand new treatment called Airflow. For more information follow the link:  Airflow dental polishing

What causes it?

It’s caused by plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth and gums.  Brushing regularly removes this plaque although you will need to visit the hygienist (or dental hygiene therapist) to have your teeth scaled every three to six months.  Scaling is where a high pressure jet of air and water is blasted under the gum-line to remove plaque and bacteria that brushing cannot reach.

Sometimes you can get bad smells and abscess-like symptoms from impacted wisdom teeth.  This is not the same as gum disease and causes pain in your wisdom teeth (or third molars).  Often the wisdom teeth need to be extracted and you can read more about that here: wisdom teeth removal.

How is it Diagnosed?

When patients come to Smileworks they will have a number of diagnostic checks as part of their check-up.  Your dentist or dental hygiene therapist will take x-rays. The reason we do this is the measure the amount of bone loss and any damage to supporting structures of the teeth.  Remember the bacteria damage your bone and this is what makes your teeth wobble with advanced periodontal disease.

We will also conduct a ‘pocket chart’.  This is not a chart you keep in your pocket but a depth measurement of the ‘pockets’ between the gum and bone.  The deeper the pockets in mm the worse the situation.  Bleeding is often not common with advanced periodontal disease because the blood pools in the pockets and you don’t see it.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the mildest and most common form of gum disease affecting 95% of adults at some point in their lives. You may notice symptoms like:

• Your gums are not healthy pink but deep red, bright red or sometimes purple
• You may notice blood in your spit when you brush your teeth
• You may notice bad breath (or more likely your friends and family might!)
• Your gums may be inflamed and look swollen
• They may be tender or painful to touch and brush
• They may be soft or squiggly to touch
• You my notice your gums receding or your teeth appearing longer than they were

Gingivitis does not affect the underlying tooth structures and is easy to prevent with a good oral hygiene regime that includes brushing twice daily.  In addition to brushing you will need to floss or use intra-oral brushes or ‘Tepe brushes’.  Gingivitis is also straight forward to treat at the dentist with regular hygiene appointments where the therapist will clean under the gemlike and remove the bacteria that type brushes and floss cannot reach.  Watch the video here to learn more;

Periodontal Disease

When gingivitis is left untreated and you are not regularly brushing, flossing or using intra-oral brushes, you will develop full gum disease or periodontal disease. This is where the bacteria in the plaque causes a full blown infection in the mouth.  It’s not the actual bacteria that cause the problems but how your body responds to the bacteria that causes many of the issues associated with gum disease.

• If you have periodontal disease (or “perio” to dentists) you will notice the following symptoms
• Possibly some or all of the symptoms of gingivitis.
• the gums receding from the teeth and the teeth appearing longer
• your teeth are spreading out, moving or becoming loose.
• You have periodontal ‘pockets’ which are gaps between the gums and teeth
• There may be more bleeding or sometimes the bleeding may be less, because it is confined to the pockets caused by your periodontal disease

Chronic Periodontal Disease / Periodontitis

This is where the bacterial infection is severe and chronic.  You will notice severe gum recession, wobbly or loose teeth and you may have a number of missing teeth.  When the disease has progressed this far there is an increased risk that you may develop other systemic health problems as a consequence.  Brushing and oral hygiene will not be enough to treat advanced perio and you will need to come to see your dental hygiene therapist for a treatment plan to get the disease under control.   Here’s a helpful video explaining periodontitis in more detail including your treatment options.

How to get rid of Gum Disease

As we’ve already said, the best treatment for gum disease is prevention.  The best way to get rid of gum disease is not to get it in the first place.  Gingivitis treatment will usually start with brushing twice daily, using Tape brushes and flossing.  Take a look here at the Smileworks guide to Oral Hygiene Gadgets for a great review of all the different oral hygiene tools and hacks available to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

If the problem is more severe and you have periodontal disease then this can be treated at the dentist with more frequent hygiene appointments.  Patients with healthy mouths should visit the dental hygiene therapist or hygienist at least twice a year.  For individuals with periodontal disease, you’ll need to visit four times a year or even more.

The therapist may also proscribe special antibiotics that will help your body fight the infection and get your period under control.  Many patients ask whether periodontal disease has a cure.  The answer is that it cannot be ‘cured’ but can be managed so it stops causing you more problems in the future.

How much does it cost?

This is another question frequently asked by patients.  Here at Smileworks we have a tailored membership plans that costs just £45 per month for:

• 2 check ups per year
• 1 Comprehensive hygiene appointment
• 3 maintenance scale, polish and cleanings per year
• 1 basic scale
• Routine x-rays
• 10% off necessary dental treatment
• Emergency dental cover in the UK
• Warranty on all dental work

if you have advanced periodontal disease then your dental hygienist therapist will need to conduct additional treatments to stabilise your gum disease including a course of antibiotics and frequent debridements to remove the plaque, tartar, dead tissue and debris from around the teeth and gums to allow the infection to heal and your situation to improve.  This will incur an additional cost but patients are often surprised at how much can be done and how their position can improve without spending very much money.

Here at Smileworks our dentists very rarely if ever treat gum disease.  We leave it to the experts who are dental hygienist therapists and spend their entire careers treating and managing gum disease.  This is not only a better solution to get you the results you deserve but also a less expensive alternative to being treated by a dentist.

How long does treatment take?

Gum disease treatment is not a simple fix and it involves work from both the hygiene therapist and you to fix the problems and improve the health of your mouth.  Treatment can take months and often seems to get worse before it gets better.  This is normal though and your dentist or hygienist will give you all the advice you need on what to expect during your treatment.

We have a variety of dental memberships. Save money with your regular check ups and make sure your Gum Disease is under control permanently from this point forward. Our plan is better value and offers much more than a Denplan membership. Check out the details here.

Is it Painful?

Gum disease can sometimes be painful but a lot of the time there is no pain from the infection.  This is one of the main reasons it is such a widespread disease.  People assume that everything is ok so long as it doesn’t hurt.  Treatment for advanced gum disease is not painful and your therapist will use local anaesthetic to numb the treated areas before any potentially painful work is carried out.

Here’s our complete and unbiased review of the best (and worst) oral hygiene gadgets compared just for you by our cosmetic dentists and therapists.  click the link to download and also watch our video where the team discuss their findings.

Click the image to download our report; “Liverpool’s Most Common Disease”.