Gingivitis ~ Causes, Symptoms And Prevention

Gingivitis is a prevalent infection that causes swelling of the gums. It can occur at any age and lead to periodontal disease, more earnest and affect the deeper tissues of the jaw. The latter occurs when the accumulated plaque as minuscule pockets at the edge of the gums, causing the gum tissue to shrink. The plaque can eventually attack the jawbone and teeth to move.  Periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in the elderly. As we age, the peril of suffering increases.

Gingivitis is the denomination commonly given to an inflammation of the gums. This inflammation is conventionally caused by bacteria that enter the bone at the root of the tooth. Often benign, the gingivitis can become more perplexed when it turns into periodontitis, the patient may lose his or her tooth.

Although no authentic peril, and painless, it is imperative to take care of gingivitis expeditiously to avoid any complications. Thus, the first step in averting this type of gum disease is to create an impeccable oral hygiene, brushing your teeth morning, noon and night. Withal, the utilization of lotions and antibacterial mouthwashes will avail you fight against the onset of gingivitis.

Causes of Gingivitis

• Plaque. Plaque is a coating that composes on teeth and consists mostly of bacteria. Plaques commence to appear when foods containing sugar and starch commixed with bacteria in the mouth.  Plaque can be abstracted by brushing, but can form again in no time. If not cleaned for 2 or 3 days, it will commence to harden plaque below the gum line and becomes tartar. The bacteria that thrive in tartar and commence to exasperate the gum section is known as the gingiva.

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• Poor Nutrition. Poor diet decreases your body's ability to fight bacteria, including the bacteria that cause gingivitis. Some food culls directly affect your teeth additionally. Saccharine foods stick to the tooth enamel and sanction you to magnetize and feed the bacteria from the mouth, acid-affluent foods eat away at the tooth enamel.

• Stress. Like unhealthy eating, stress lowers your immunity and gives the bacteria a more preponderant chance to proliferate in your mouth. Stress can additionally disrupt your habits, requiring you to skip the daily brushing and the utilization of dental floss.

• Pregnant. Pregnant women are prone to gum disease. Hormonal changes and tartar sometimes cumulate to engender an extortionate amount of gum tissue. Sometimes a tumor is composed and bleeds facilely. This is an impulse pregnancy has nothing to do with cancer. This tumor can block certain areas at the base of the gums, sanctioning bacteria to grow safely.

• Drugs (e.g. Birth control pills.)

Symptoms Of Gingivitis 

• Bad Breath

• Swollen gums

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• Bright red or purple gums 

• Gums that are tender or painful to the touch 

• Bleeding gums or bleeding after brushing and flossing

Prevention Of Gingivitis

Prevention of gingivitis is relatively simple. The first step is to make a consummate and precise cleaning of the entire mouth, utilizing a scaling done at your dentist. This will aim to abstract all the bacteria present on your teeth and around your gums.

• Brush Your Teeth Regularly. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day can obviate gingivitis. Utilize a toothbrush with soft bristles and try to always change your toothbrush every 4 months maximum.

• Dental Floss. Gingivitis conventionally commences between the teeth, where your toothbrush is less efficacious for cleaning bacteria. The utilization of dental floss every day is paramount. Dental floss cleans between the teeth and under your gums to abstract plaque which is beyond the reach of a toothbrush, even if you brush carefully. So, do not forget the dental floss . Pass it every day. Insert it between your teeth and pass it by forming a "C" on each side of the tooth and dragging up and down. Do not neglect the back teeth that you should clean the same way.

• Antiseptic Mouthwash. Utilizing antiseptic mouthwash containing chlorhexidine which can help to obviate the incrementation of the plate.

• Fruits And Vegetables. Eat fruits and vegetables, They are rich in antioxidants, which avails to regenerate tissue. As a bonus, raw, they avail in cleaning of the teeth.

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• Quit Smoking. Smoking multiplied by four the risk for periodontal disease. In addition, among smokers, the healing of the gums is not as expeditious after osteoplasty (surgery).

Conclusion: If gingivitis is not treated in time, or if it does not resolve itself, then the bacteria can perpetuate to grow, and gingivitis can develop into periodontitis. This disease is much more severe than a simple gingivitis and can cause irreversible ravagement of some tissue at the gum. The result is a loss of teeth. So be be careful not to neglect gingivitis so as not to acquire this kind of surprises.

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