Gingivitis Treatment
What is Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is a low-risk oral health condition which affects the gums. Symptoms of the condition include irritation, redness and swelling around the part of the gums that lies around the base of the teeth. Gingivitis often results from poor oral hygiene such as not brushing and flossing frequently enough. While mild in its effect, gingivitis should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible if a patient believes they have it. If left untreated, gingivitis can quickly develop into a more serious condition: periodontitis, that can result in tooth loss.
Symptoms of Gingivitis
As mentioned above, the primary symptoms of gingivitis include swollen or puffy gums, dusky red or dark red gums, bleeding gums during brushing or flossing, bad breath, receding gums and tender gums. If you have noticed any of the above symptoms while brushing your teeth it’s best practice to book an appointment at your local dentist. The sooner you seek treatment, the less your chances are of developing more-serious periodontitis.
What Causes Gingivitis?
When poor oral hygiene is maintained, plaque can easily form on teeth. Plaque turns into tartar if left untouched and tartar collects bacteria. The hard calculus comprising tartar is irritating to the gingiva component of the gums (the area located at the base of the teeth) and collected bacteria can cause infection if left untreated. In time, gums become irritated and swollen and can bleed easily. Tooth decay can result from this.
Treating Gingivitis
A regular scale and clean in combination with daily brushing and flossing can reverse the effects of gingivitis and prevent its development into more-serious periodontitis. If you have developed signs of gingivitis, it’s best to brush and floss after every meal, invest in dental mouthwash and rinse after brushing and flossing and book an appointment for a scale and clean. Frequent oral health care is both a preventative measure and a treatment for gingivitis, but a dental visit is also recommended to ensure that symptoms are managed properly.
What is Periodontitis?
Untreated gingivitis can lead to the spread of gum disease to underlying teeth and bone tissue. This can result in tooth loss. Periodontitis is also associated with some systemic diseases such as respiratory disease, diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke and rheumatoid arthritis. These conditions can appear when bacteria contained in tartar enters the bloodstream and spreads to other parts of the body. In the third world, untreated gingivitis often develops into necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, commonly referred to as trench mouth, which results in painful, infected, bleeding gums and ulcerations.
Contact Campsie Laser Dental
Contact our friendly staff if you have noticed the signs of gingivitis developing in your mouth. Campsie Laser Dental is open for business Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 6:00pm. Call today on (02) 9789 6219.