Gum Disease Symptoms And Their Treatment

The health of gums is as important as that of your teeth. But why is that so? Well, healthy gum tissues fit snugly around your teeth, preventing bacteria and plaque from accessing their deeper areas. Since the area under the gum line is more vulnerable than the enamel-covered part of your teeth, the entrance of bacteria and other germs into it can make your teeth more susceptible to fall out.

So, it is worth knowing about gum disease and how to prevent or treat it.

What is gum disease?

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, has three stages: gingivitis, periodontitis, and aggressive periodontitis. We will discuss all three briefly here.

• Gingivitis: This mild form of gum disease refers to the inflammation of gums. This inflammation is caused by the formation of plaque around the gum line. The good news is that you can treat and reverse gum disease at this stage by committing to a rigorous oral hygiene routine.
• Periodontitis: If gingivitis is left untreated, it can turn into periodontitis, which is a more advanced form of gum disease. This infection contributes to the detachment of gum tissues from teeth, developing pockets to house bacterial accumulation. Periodontal disease at this stage starts affecting gums and bone tissues quite severely.
• Stage three of gum disease is aggressive periodontitis, which refers to the loosening of teeth due to a more significant detachment of gum tissues.

What are the symptoms of gum disease?

Gum disease usually progresses silently. That is why millions of people may not even know they have this infection. The point is how you could know whether you have gum disease if you are unaware of any plaque or tartar buildup.

You can look at a few signs to assess the problem. Here are a few symptoms that can become quite noticeable if you have gum disease.

• Red and swollen gums
• Bleeding gums while brushing or flossing
• Bleeding gums when eating
• Longer-looking teeth due to gum recession
• Tender gums
• Pus buildup between teeth and gums
• Chronic bad breath
• Pain in the mouth

What are the treatment options?

If you have gingivitis, your dentist will perform a deep-cleaning procedure, which is called dental scaling and root planing. The good thing is that gingivitis treatments can reverse the problem.

Periodontitis is when gingivitis is left untreated. The treatment of this infection may involve surgery. Types of surgeries performed to treat periodontitis include a pocket reduction for the removal of bacteria, gum grafting surgery, plastic surgery, and regenerative procedures.

Preventing gum disease

Preventing gum disease is far better than having to go for treatment. The good thing is that it is quite easy to prevent this infection.

First and foremost, make sure to stick to your oral hygiene routine. Brush your teeth twice and floss once a day. Rinse your mouth with mouthwash more often. Replace your toothbrush every three months.

Aside from sticking to a rigorous dental health routine, make sure to visit your dentist every six months for detail oral and dental checkups. Your dentist will also perform cleanings to reduce the chances of infections in the future.

Easy Steps To Fight Gingivitis

Gingivitis is a pretty common word for people who are familiar with dental health terminologies. However, you may wonder what it is and what to do if you have it. This condition refers to the swelling, pain, or bleeding of gums when you brush. It can also be a reason for a foul smell in your breath. These are the clear and most common signs of gingivitis. The good thing is that this problem is treatable and pretty much reversible.

In this article, we will discuss some easy steps to treat gingivitis. But first, let’s discuss how you might get gingivitis.

How does gingivitis develop?

Gingivitis is usually the result of inflammation in the gums due to the bacterial buildup around the gum line. This inflammation makes your gums more susceptible to bleed. Since gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease, taking care of your oral hygiene can be quite beneficial. The fact of the matter is that a complete oral hygiene routine can help reverse gingivitis.

Fighting gingivitis by brushing your teeth properly

Brushing your teeth is the first step in fighting gingivitis. Here is how you can brush your teeth properly.

• Make sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush, which is small enough to reach the back of your mouth to clean your molars.
• Make sure that the brush makes a 45-degree angle against your gum line while you brush.
• Use short back-and-forth motions but be gentle during the entire time. Pressing too hard can have adverse effects.

Remember, removing plaque buildup doesn’t require a lot of pressure while brushing, but you will have to remain committed to brushing your teeth regularly. The best practice is to brush your teeth for at least two minutes. You can divide your mouth into quadrants to allocate each of your teeth a fair bit of brushing time. You can use whatever technique you are comfortable with, but make sure not to skip any of your teeth. While brushing, make sure to clean both the front and back sides of all teeth. Don’t forget to brush the chewing surfaces of your teeth.

You also have to change your toothbrush regularly. Make sure to replace your old toothbrush with a new one every three months.

Flossing

Although brushing can clean the front and back sides of your teeth, it cannot clean areas between teeth. These areas are equally prone to developing plaque and subsequent dental problems. That is why you have to floss your teeth every day. Since flossing can be a little complicated than brushing, you can do it once a day. The best time to floss your teeth is right before going to bed.

To floss your teeth, you will need a flossing thread. Insert that thread into the space between two teeth and slide it gently. Before moving to the next interdental area, unwrap a couple of inches of new flossing thread to avoid moving bacteria to other teeth. Make sure to clean all interdental spaces this way.

Professional dental care

Make sure to visit your dentist every six months for a thorough checkup and cleaning of your teeth. Your dentist will tell you if there is a risk of any dental or oral health problems. This dental visit will also help you get rid of gingivitis quite effectively.