All You Need to Know About Gingivitis
Is gingivitis another word for gum disease?
Yes and no. Gingivitis is a very mild form of gum disease that is more common. It causes you to have inflammation and irritation to the gums surrounding the base of your teeth – known as the Gingiva.
If gingivitis is left untreated, it can develop into a more severe form of gum disease called Periodontitis. This type of gum disease is very serious and can even lead to tooth loss.
What causes gingivitis?
Gingivitis is most often a result of poor oral hygiene. So in order to avoid it, you must maintain a good oral hygiene routine. This should include brushing twice a day, morning and night, and flossing once per day. You should also attend your routine dental checkups to make sure that you haven’t missed any problems.
Why does bad oral hygiene cause gingivitis?
If you do not brush your teeth, then plaque will build up on them. This is the sticky film that coats your teeth when you eat starch and sugars. The plaque reforms quickly over your teeth when you eat, so it is important you keep on top of brushing twice a day.
If plaque is not removed from your teeth daily, it will become harder, and turn into something called ‘calculus’. Calculus is a lot harder to remove from teeth and protects the bacteria which can irritate your gums. You will need a professional cleaning from your dentist or hygienist to remove calculus.
If plaque and calculus stay on your teeth for long periods, they will begin to irritate the gum around the base of your teeth. If left untreated, they’ll become very inflamed and will bleed easily – this is the start of gum disease – gingivitis.
What are the symptoms of gingivitis?
Gingivitis usually shows the following symptoms:
- Inflammation of the gums
- Dark red colouring on the gums
- Gums that bleed when brushed or flossed
- Bad breath
- Painful gums
How do I treat gingivitis?
Thankfully, gingivitis is easy to treat. All you need to do is follow a good oral hygiene routine, and you should see your gums return to normal.
If you think you have gingivitis, it can be helpful to speak to your dentist. Contact our team at Glandwr to book an appointment.
