Gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults.

Signs of Gum Disease	Prevention
Bleeding Gums Puffy 'glossy' surface Receding gum and bone Recent tooth spacing Mobile teeth Sensitivity around the tooth necks Rarely painful, but can be in advanced cases	Regular tooth brushing Flossing Irregular mouth rinses Gum massagers ( soft wood sticks) Regular Professional cleanings and check-ups

Hard deposits around the teeth are calcified soft debris (plaque). If cleaning is really good then the hard deposits (calculus) is minimal. The plaque ( a mixture of salivary deposits and food debris) has a very high bacteria level and the toxins from the germs invade the gum and cause it to swell and bleed easily. Plaque hardens onto the neck of the teeth if not removed efficiently and regularly and then becomes an excellent base for more plaque. Untreated, the gum and bone recedes down the root surfaces and eventually the teeth become loose and fall out.

Gum disease eventually results  in spaces  called pockets between the teeth, the gum and bone. The deeper the pockets, the less support there is for the teeth and the more chance of tooth loss.

Plaque around the teeth can be highlighted by disclosing solutions available at pharmacies. Note the puffy swollen gum papilla in between the teeth.

Flossing is very important, as it removes the soft plaque and any food debris from in between the teeth more effectively than  brushing alone.