Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums due to bacterial infection. If this inflammation is not treated for a long time, it may become a more severe infection known as periodontitis. Gingivitis and periodontitis are the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
What Causes Gingivitis?
Your gums are attached to the teeth below the visible edges of the gums. This creates a small space called sulcus or gum gutter (the gutter means the depression between the gingiva rim and the tooth surface; the gutter is usually 0.5 mm deep, but even in healthy patients, the depth is up to 2 mm).
Plaque is a thin film of bacteria. They constantly form on the surface of the teeth. As the plaque progresses, it hardens and becomes tartar. You may develop an infection if the plaque extends below the gum line.
Untreated gingivitis can cause the gums to separate from the teeth. If left untreated, it can cause soft tissue and bone support problems for the teeth. As a result, the tooth may become loose and unstable. If the infection progresses, the tooth may eventually fall out, or the dentist will have to remove it.
Risk Factors for Gingivitis
Several Risk Factors Contribute to Gingivitis Such As:
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Diabetes
- consumption of certain drugs (oral contraceptives, steroids, contraceptives, calcium channel blockers, and chemotherapy)
- crooked teeth
- broken tooth fillings
- Pregnancy
- Genetic factors
- Immunity at risk in some way (e.g., HIV / AIDS)
What Are the Symptoms of Gingivitis?
Many people don’t even realize they have gingivitis. It is possible to have gum disease without any symptoms. However, the symptoms of gingivitis can be as follows:
- gums that are very red, sensitive, or swollen
- bleeding gums when you brush your teeth
- gums pulled away from the teeth
- loose teeth
- Pus between teeth and gums
- Chewing pain
- sensitive teeth
- A stinking breath that won’t disappear even after brushing your teeth (your mouth is a warm and damp home for millions of bacteria – they feed on the plaque, so the more you have, the bigger it’s excellent for me – bacteria then they release toxins that can irritate the gums and teeth and have a typical unpleasant odor)
- Gums are shrinking – If your teeth look longer than before, they’re likely not to grow, but your gums are shrinking.
Diagnosis
During your dental examination, your gums will be probed. This probe is a way to check inflammation. It also measures all pockets around the teeth. The average depth is 1 to 3 millimeters. Your dentist may also order an X-ray examination to check for bone loss.
Talk to your dentist about the risk factors for gum disease and your symptoms. It can help diagnose your gingivitis. If you have gingivitis, you will be referred to a periodontologist. Periodontologist is a dentist who specializes in the treatment of gum disease.
Treatment
It is necessary to practice proper oral hygiene. Therefore, you should reduce smoking and work with your diabetes. Other treatments options are:
- Professional teeth brushing by a doctor – Tartar removal
- antibiotic drugs
- Surgery
Let’s Go Through the Methods of Treating Gingivitis One by One:
Tooth Cleaning – Deep, by a Doctor
Several techniques can thoroughly clean teeth without surgery. All of these methods remove plaque and tartar to prevent gum irritation:
- The dentist manually removes tartar from above and below the gum line.
- Dental stones can also be removed by ultrasound.
- Chemistry or laser can also remove tartar.
Unlike conventional cleaning, which is usually done only above the gum line, a doctor’s deep cleaning will reach below the gum line. The dentist will also use special tools you don’t have at home.
Medication
There is no magic pill or cream to cure gum disease. Yet your dentist may prescribe medication as part of your treatment.
A Variety of Drugs and Preparations Can Treat Gingivitis:
- Antiseptic mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine can disinfect the mouth.
- Sustained-release antiseptics containing chlorhexidine.
- Oral antibiotics to treat persistent areas of gingivitis. Antibiotic gel: After a thorough cleaning, apply this medicine to help control the infection.
- Doxycycline, an antibiotic, can help protect against tooth damage. You are taking this tablet after a thorough cleaning to block certain enzymes in your mouth.
- Use of Bone and tissue grafts if the teeth and jaws are too damaged to heal.
Surgery
Even Surgery Can Be a Way to Treat Gingivitis. In General, Your Doctor Can Recommend Two Procedures:
- Gum surgery: The surgeon removes tissue from another part of the mouth (like your palate) and covers all exposed tooth roots | to prevent bone loss or decay and help sensitive teeth.
- Plastic surgery: Your gums will be lifted so that the surgeon can reach the tartar | far below the gum line. He then puts your gum back in place, so it is firmly attaches to the tooth – preventing the formation of additional tartar.
Prevention
How to Prevent It?
Gingivitis prevention aims at proper and consistent oral hygiene. Remember to eat a balanced diet and regularly visit the dentist. Cleaning your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is essential. In addition, use dental floss for brushing teeth every day.
Other Health Problems Associated With Gingivitis
Gingivitis can increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and lung. It also increases the chance that a pregnant woman will give birth prematurely (i.e., a baby will have low birth weight and other problems). Although gingivitis is associated with these medical conditions, it has not been 100% proven to cause them directly. The actual connection of these problems will require more research.
Bottom Line
Now that you know about gingivitis, it is important to take precautionary measures to avoid the buildup of plaque.
