The initial stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. Gum disease, sometimes referred to as periodontal disease, is an infection of the tissues that surround your teeth brought on by plaque accumulation. Early on, some of the symptoms could be:
- Gums that bleed readily
- swollen, red, and sensitive gums
- foul breath
The following are some things that may increase your risk of getting gingivitis:
- inadequate dental treatment
- Chewing tobacco or smoking
- genetics
- crooked teeth that are difficult to maintain
- pregnancy
- diabetes
- drugs, such as oral contraceptives, some calcium channel blockers, steroids, and some anti-epilepsy and cancer treatment drugs
Although this may seem frightening, the illness is still curable at this point. Daily brushing and flossing, along with a trip to the dentist’s office for professional cleaning, can help eradicate the infection.
Gum disease is typically painless, so you might not be aware that you have it. For this reason, it’s crucial to maintain a healthy dental routine that includes brushing and flossing in addition to scheduling routine dental examinations.
Making a diagnosis
An oral hygienist or dentist will examine the oral cavity for signs like tartar and plaque.
To look for indications of periodontitis, they might also prescribe tests. X-rays or periodontal probing, which uses a device to measure the depth of the pockets surrounding a tooth, can be used for this.
Therapy
A person may be able to treat gingivitis at home with proper oral hygiene if the condition is identified early and treated appropriately.
Find out more about gingivitis home remedies here.
However, a person may want to seek professional assistance if symptoms do not go away or if the condition negatively impacts their quality of life.
Dental care from a professional and at-home follow-up procedures are common components of treatment.
Expert dental treatment
Scaling may be performed first by a dentist. This will allow them to get rid of extra tartar and plaque. This may cause discomfort, particularly if the gums are sensitive or there is a significant tartar accumulation.
Following tooth cleaning, the dentist will discuss the value of maintaining good oral hygiene and the proper technique for brushing and flossing.
They might advise scheduling follow-up visits to check on a person’s tartar and plaque. This will enable the dentist to promptly detect and address any recurrences.
Maintaining good oral hygiene also includes repairing any broken teeth. It may be more difficult to effectively remove plaque and tartar from teeth that are crooked or that have poorly fitted crowns or bridges. They may also cause gum irritation.
Avoidance
Regularly maintaining proper oral hygiene may help someone avoid gingivitis at home. This comprises:
- brushing your teeth twice a day or more
- utilizing an electric toothbrush
- At least one tooth-flossing session per day
- Using an antiseptic mouthwash on a regular basis
Implications
In most cases, complications can be avoided by treating gingivitis and adhering to the dentist’s instructions.
But if gum disease is not treated, it can spread and damage teeth, bones, and tissue.
Among the complications are:
- infection or abscess in the jawbone or gingiva
- Periodontitis is a more severe condition that can cause teeth and bone loss.
- Periodic gingivitis
- trench mouth, where gum ulceration results from a bacterial infection
In brief
One prevalent form of gum disease is gingivitis. It is brought on by an accumulation of bacteria on the teeth. The gums may become inflamed, discolored, and painful to the touch as a result of this accumulation irritating the surrounding gum tissue.
Gingivitis can usually be treated with consistent, good oral hygiene. Gum disease symptoms can be detected and promptly treated with the aid of routine dental examinations.