Signs of Gingivitis
July 29, 2009 by admin
Filed under Gingivitis
Gum disease, known as gingivitis (or it’s more severe form, periodontitis), refers to the inflammation of the gums (gingiva). It results from accumulation of bacteria near the gum line, causing bacterial invasion into the tissues of the body. If not addressed and treated, gingivitis will lead to recession of the gums, bone loss, tooth loss, and systemic disease.
Signs of Gingivitis
- Swollen gums
- Bleeding gums (especially when brushing or flossing)
- Shiny or red gums
- Associated pain
- Bad breath or foul smelling gums
- Gum recession (teeth appear longer)
Causes of Gingivitis
- Most often caused by plaque accumulation and poor oral hygiene habits
- Hormonal changes (i.e. pregnancy)
- Certain medications that may suppress the immune system
Gingivitis is a mild form of inflammation. Unlike it’s more serious form, periodontitis, gingivitis can be treated quickly and easily if addressed in a timely fashion.
Treatment for Gingivitis
- Improve oral hygiene habits – Brush after each meal and floss every day. If this regimen is followed precisely, the bleeding will eventually stop.
- Incorporate a mouth rinse, preferably with chlorohexidine, into your daily routine. This can assist with the removal of unwanted bacteria.
- Visit the dentist and get a cleaning – The dentist will be able to effectively remove plaque and calculus, the main causes of gingivitis. However, it’s up to you to maintain the plaque free mouth after this point.
- Antibiotics – If serious, the dentist may prescribe antibiotics to control the bacterial invasion.
All in all, gingivitis can easily be managed if addressed early. Take the right steps in keeping up with your oral hygiene to maintain a healthy smile.
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Check out what others are saying about this post...[...] you’re describing is a severe case of gingival recession. Severe recession usually results from gingivitis or periodontitis. Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums around the tooth. Periodontitis is similar to [...]
[...] A full mouth debridement is an extensive cleaning procedure that involves cleaning the surfaces of your teeth including the tooth surfaces (root) located under the gums. A dentist performs a periodontal probing to determine if a patient needs a debridement. Based off of your information, it looks like the dentist recorded your probing depths, meaning he used a probe to measure the depths of the pockets around your teeth. This information tells us whether or not your gums are inflamed, meaning that you are experiencing gingivitis (please see our article here for more information on gingivitis). [...]
[...] if you have an excessive buildup of calculus or have some form of gingivitis or periodontitis (Please read more about these conditions here). But to offer a brief recap, gingivitis and periodontitis are caused by bacteria that are left [...]
[...] hyperplastic (too many cells), or diseased gum tissue. This procedure was once used to remove periodontally involved tissues, however is no longer employed when dealing with periodontitis or [...]