Gingivitis is a type of gum disease that needs to be caught and treated early to prevent more serious oral health issues. It is characterized by red and swelling gums which could lead to lose teeth and periodontitis if left untreated.

Knowing The Symptoms

Gingivitis rarely involves pain so most people do not realize that they have it. The symptoms involve puffed out gums, receding gums, dark red gums, blood during brushing or flossing, tender gums and halitosis. If you have any of these, book an appointment with your dentist so it can immediately be dealt with.

What Causes Gingivitis

Starchy and sugary foods nourish the bacteria found in the mouth and results to plaque. It is a thin layer of film that coats the teeth which can be removed with flossing and brushing. Plaque naturally forms as you eat and drink and it must be removed daily to prevent cavities. If plaque is not removed for 2 days it could harden into tartar which can only be cleaned out by dentists because it can occur beneath the gum-line. This irritates the gums and allows bacteria to grow, multiply and form cavities at the base of your teeth.

Gingivitis can happen to anyone but particularly risky populations are those who smoke, have diabetes, those with compromised immune systems, those with dry mouth, those with loose or uncomfortable crowns and damaged dental restorations. Medical research has found a connection with poor oral health and heart conditions which only shows how important dental health can be.

Dealing With Gingivitis

The dentist will clean your teeth to get rid of tartar and plaque that you might have missed during brushing. Successive check-ups may be necessary to ensure that gingivitis will not develop into more serious issues. The dentist will also teach you proper ways on flossing and brushing. Proper oral care is the best way of eliminating and preventing the future occurrence of the dreaded gingivitis.

Professional dental cleaning is typically done every 6 months but those with gingivitis may have to schedule more cleaning sessions depending on the severity of the case. Replace your toothbrush every 3 or 4 months and always choose brushes with soft bristles. Electric toothbrushes clean better with less effort but oral health can still be achieved with conscientiously brushing manually. Electric brushes also need to have the bristles replaced every 4 months. Teeth need to brushed at least twice a day, when you have gingivitis always brush after eating, brushing after meals and snacks prevents a lot of future oral issues.

Flossing needs to be done for the areas that your brush can’t reach, do it once or twice a day. You can use floss holders or dental picks to make flossing easier. Use antiseptic mouthwashes and strengthened or fortified toothpastes for controlling tartar if your dentist advises it. If your gingivitis is being causes by a misaligned bite or a compromised dental restoration then have the dentist fix them for a healthier and more comfortable smile.

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