With the daily hustle and bustle it is possible that we overlook signs or symptoms that seem to be normal but that can be a warning of the beginning of an inflammation in our gums or Gingivitis.
Do you bleed when you brush your teeth? Do you have red gums?
Prevent dental diseases such as this is extremely important to prevent progression to phases that may be irreversible. In this article we will give you practical details that will help prevent this dental disease from being a problem for you.
Table of Content
What is Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is a dental disease of bacterial origin that consists of inflammation of the gums. Its name comes both from the Latin term Gingiva, which means gum, and from the Greek Itis, which means Inflammation. 1
In gingivitis induced by bacterial plaque, although it is true there is inflammation, there is no bone loss or loss of the periodontal attachment, which is why it is considered the mild stage of periodontal disease. It can present halitosis.
Causes that cause Gingivitis
The main cause of gingivitis as well as tooth decay or childhood caries is the bacterial plaque. This plaque accumulates under the gums, infecting and therefore affecting the supporting tissues of the teeth (gums, ligaments and bone)
Dental plaque is a buildup of adherent bacteria that continuously forms around the teeth and under the gums.
These bacteria continually release harmful toxins that cause gum inflammation (bleeding), halitosis (bad breath), and can also lead to tooth decay. When dental plaque is not effectively removed by daily brushing and flossing, it turns into hard tartar that can only be removed by a professional
Risk Factors
There are a large number of scientific studies that have agreed on the following factors as the main ones to increase the prevalence of swollen gums:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Excessive consumption of alcohol and sugar.
Who can get Gingivitis
Everyone can suffer from gingivitis and the prevalence in humanity is very high, that is why at the Asiri Dental Center in Quito, we are committed to disseminating dental prevention information as a fundamental premise.
For this reason we are open to answer any questions you may have and if you like, you can share this article with the people you consider this information useful.
Examples of Gingivitis Cases
Below is a photograph of a patient, where you can see the edge of his gums reddened due to the inflammation he suffers.
Treatment of Gingivitis
There are two main actions that can be performed:
- Ultrasonic teeth cleaning with polishing and that it is carried out by a professional, here we may find ourselves in the need to perform some scaling and root planing above or below the gum.
- Provide dental hygiene instructions aimed at achieve definitive control of bacterial plaque
Importance of treating Gingivitis
Gingivitis is an initial stage of periodontal disease, it is extremely important that it be treated to avoid advancing to more advanced and even irreversible phases of this silent disease. Thus avoiding the need to visit the periodontist.
Tips to prevent Gingivitis
We have a specific article for this point, you can visit it here: Oral Hygiene Instructions
TIP: visit your trusted dentist for your check-up at least once a year, preferably twice.
Conclusions
You should never ignore signs or symptoms of gingivitis, however simple and harmless they may seem.
On the contrary, you must take immediate action to stop the progression of pyorrhea or periodontal disease.
And even if you do not present symptoms, your routine check-up with your trusted dentist is vital, only he will be able to fully check the state of your oral health and will be able to give you the best recommendations.
Author:
Our Foundress and guardian of our Values
Dr. Krisna makes sure that the treatment you receive is successful by contrasting opinions between all the doctors that are necessary and ensuring a neat execution of all the processes.
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