Gum Health & Disease

By Dr John Barclay | DRJB Smile Clinic, Ruabon, North Wales A toothbrush cleans three of the five surfaces of each tooth. The two surfaces that face the adjacent teeth — the contact points — are inaccessible to any toothbrush, manual or electric, however well it's used. If you're only brushing, forty percent of each tooth's surface is being left unclean twice a day. Interdental cleaning is the only way to reach those surfaces. Here's what it does, why it matters, and why the

By Dr John Barclay | DRJB Smile Clinic, Ruabon, North Wales Bleeding gums are one of the most consistently misunderstood signs in dentistry. Most patients either ignore it entirely or blame themselves for brushing too hard. Neither response addresses what's actually happening. Here's what bleeding gums mean — and what to do about it. Healthy Gums Don't Bleed This is the starting point. A healthy gum — one with no significant inflammation, no plaque accumulation at the margin,