Understanding Gingivitis
Do you realize that gingivitis is an extremely common oral health condition? Gingivitis can begin in early childhood. At puberty, prevalence rises. In recent years, periodontal disease, the endpoint of chronic gingivitis, slowly has decreased among adult Americans. However, chronic periodontitis is still the most prevalent chronic inflammatory condition in the elderly. And these all begin with gingivitis.
Gingivitis is the first and mildest stage of gum disease; it is treatable and reversible. The most common cause of the condition is poor oral hygiene, exacerbated by factors such as diabetes, autoimmune diseases, pregnancy, inadequate nutrition, smoking, and certain medications. If left untreated, it can lead to its more serious form – periodontitis. Eventually, there will be soft tissue and bone destruction leading to highly probable tooth loss.
How do you know you may have gingivitis?
Most people are not aware they have this condition as gingivitis is usually painless, but there are many symptoms. The most common symptoms are: swollen gums, soft puffy gums, receding gums, occasionally tender gums, gums that bleed easily when flossing or brushing, change in gum color from pink to red and also bad breath.
Can gingivitis be avoided?
You can, as well as arresting early gingivitis, by seeing your dentist on a regular basis. With regular appointments, at least every 6 months, you are able to undergo professional cleaning which removes hard-to-reach or hidden plaque and tartar that buildup along the gum line in the front and back of teeth and areas in between the teeth. This buildup can irritate gum tissue that can lead to its swelling and infection.
Apart from a professional cleaning, you will also benefit from an oral examination that can spot beginning cavities and early gingivitis that can be treated and reversed. The practice of proper oral hygiene at home should still be maintained. Brushing with fluoridated and antimicrobial toothpaste, daily flossing, non-harsh mouth washes, cleaning the tongue, are recommended. Eating healthy foods and discarding bad habits like smoking are also extremely helpful.
Since gingivitis is very common, with people still unable to recognize its symptoms, it is important to heed the dentist’s advice as to how often you should keep appointments. This is essential especially if you have a medical condition (like diabetes), a damaging habit (such as smoking or poor oral hygiene), or other conditions that may predispose you to gingivitis. Your dentist will tell you if twice a year or more visits are essential.
Source
