Gingivitis

The care of our gums is one of the most important aspects of our oral regiment. Not being proactive in your cleaning can leave your gums in a state of disarray. They can become overwhelmed by the plaque and eventually even become inflamed and infected. When this happens, it is becomes an ailment known as gingivitis. Understanding gingivitis is critical for people who want to keep their gums healthy and strong. In today’s blog post, we’ll go over the basics of gingivitis, what it can do to you and how you can treat or prevent it.

What is Gingivitis?

This is the result of plaque that irritates the gums and forms a pocket between the teeth and gums. Bacteria in these pockets are what lead to gingivitis and dental cavities. The gums will become red instead of healthy pink. The gums will reduce and move up the teeth, sometimes they become so weak that they are not strong enough to hold the teeth. When you brush your teeth the gum is prone to bleeding. However, on most occasions, people usually do not feel pain. There are other ways of causing gingivitis though, too. There are some drugs that can cause excessive growth (hyperplasia) of gum tissue. This makes removing plaque more difficult and in that case, gingivitis can often occur. Calcium channel blockers such as phenytoin (used to control stroke), cyclosporin (administered by people with organ transplants) and nifedipine (used to suppress blood pressure and cardiac rhythm abnormalities), can also cause this overgrowth. In addition, oral or injectable contraceptives can exacerbate gingivitis as they are exposed to lead or strontium (which is widely used in cosmetics) or other heavy metals such as nickel (for gems).

Is It Dangerous?

Early gingivitis is not a major problem, but you need to be aware of it immediately. If unchecked, it may cause gum abscesses and grooves. It is still enough to start separating the teeth from the gums. This can cause serious bacterial periodontal disease that causes periodontitis, jaw bone loss, and loosening and dropping teeth. Periodontitis is also associated with diseases such as heart disease because bacteria can enter the bloodstream and pass through the body. You want to avoid periodontitis, which requires invasive, painful, expensive dental procedures, tartar removal, and dental debridement. The American Society of Periodontology says about 64.7 million Americans suffer from periodontitis.

How Can I Prevent Gingivitis?

Use antibacterial toothpaste. It helps to fight plaque all day long after learning oral hygiene habits. There is also a gingival toothpaste like Crest Gum Detoxify that reaches the plaque around the gum line and neutralizes it for a clinically proven healthy gum. Polish your teeth more effectively. Polish twice a day, twice a day. Consider an electric toothbrush, they can clean more thoroughly than a manual brush. Pay particular attention to gum lines, as this can allow the accumulation of many toxic plaque bacteria and allow the gums to begin a healthier mouth.

Contact Us For Your Gum Protection!

Gentle Dental cares about the quality of your gums, and we want to help ensure that they are well taken care of. We can provide cleanings and check-ups that reduce your chances. However, outside of the dentist office, it’s all about your own personal oral hygiene. That’s why we want to inform you about issues like these, to make you aware and keep you proactive.