Gingivitis : What is Gingivitis/Periodontal Disease?

 

 

Gingivitis : What is Gingivitis/

Periodontal Disease?

 

 

 

 

 

Your health is important to you.

Beyond aesthetics, to keep yourself healthy,

you also want to prevent bacteria and toxins

from invading your body.

Because your mouth is a magnet for bacteria,

a lack of oral hygiene and preventive care

can lead to gum disease, also known as

gingivitis or periodontal disease.

 

 

Periodontal disease (or periodontitis) is

common for people who are 30 years old or

older. It’s also a significant reason

why adults lose their teeth.

 

 

 

 

By knowing about gum disease and

its symptoms, you’ll know if or

when you’re developing a problem

that requires gingivitis treatment.

Once you’re knowledgeable about

gum disease, you’ll also know how to

prevent gingivitis in the first place or

catch it early enough to reverse it.

 

 

 

 

 

What Is Gingivitis/Periodontal Disease?

 

The longer you allow tartar and plaque to

sit on your teeth, the more trouble

they can cause for your teeth and gums.

The bacteria can lead to gum inflammation

and a dental condition known as gingivitis.

When your gingiva becomes inflamed,

you experience sore, bleeding or

swollen gums.

 

Gingivitis is a mild stage of gum disease

that can be reversed by brushing and

flossing your teeth more thoroughly and

having a professional cleaning performed

by a dental hygienist. With gingivitis,

you don’t have any loss of tissue or bone

responsible for holding your teeth in place.

 

If you leave gingivitis untreated, however,

it can advance to a more severe stage:

periodontal disease or, even worse,

periodontitis. With periodontal disease,

your gums swell and the inflammation

may become so severe it causes you to

lose the tooth-holding tissue,

potentially resulting in the loss of one or

more of your teeth.

 

 

 

 

The sticky film of bacteria and plaque sticks

to your teeth and is what causes

this inflammation. Brushing your teeth at

least two times a day and cleaning in

between your teeth with floss removes

this plaque. If you don’t remove this plaque,

your gums may separate from your teeth

and form pockets that collect bacteria.

The following factors may increase your risk

of developing gum disease and start

this vicious cycle:

 

-Genetics

 

-Poor dental care

 

-Pregnancy

 

-Chewing or smoking tobacco

 

-Diabetes

 

-Crooked, hard-to-clean teeth

 

-Medications like cancer therapy

 

drugs, steroids and oral contraceptives

 

 

Although the sound of this may scare you,

gingivitis is still in the reversible stage of

gum disease. At this point, it may just take a

simple trip to the dentist to have your teeth

professionally cleaned. If you follow up with,

and then commit to, proper oral hygiene,

you’ll probably be just fine.

 

 

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