Do you know what gingivitis is? See how to handle the problem!

Do you know what gingivitis is? Well, this is one of the most common oral diseases, and the best way to prevent it is to maintain good oral hygiene. Maintaining good cleaning habits helps keep teeth and gums healthy and beautiful.

The disease itself is not serious, but if not treated early it can cause serious damage to oral health.

In this post, I will explain what gingivitis is, causes, symptoms and forms of treatment.

Understand what gingivitis is:

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums caused by the accumulation of food waste. Some of the most common symptoms are: redness and swelling in the tissues, bleeding when brushing your teeth, and bad breath.

It is also normal for the gums to be retracted. When this factor occurs, the teeth look bigger.

Know the causes of gingivitis:

Without proper oral hygiene, food residues remain in the mouth, forming a layer of bacteria, which is the bacterial plaque. Microorganisms then attack the gums, causing inflammation.

In addition, some factors contribute to increasing the risk of developing gingivitis. They are:

smoking;
being overweight;
diabetes;
gestation;
contraceptive drugs;
deficient immune system;
menopause;
vitamin deficiency;
excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Now that you know what gingivitis is and its causes, it’s time to learn how to prevent it. Rule number 1 is to maintain good oral hygiene. Then, at the end of each meal, brush your teeth thoroughly and floss at least once a day.

However, it is important to have a brush with soft bristles so as not to hurt your gums and promote efficient cleaning.

In addition, using a dental rinse recommended by your dentist also helps to eliminate the bacteria that cause gingivitis and keep your breath fresh.

Know the ways to treat gingivitis

In many cases, a good brushing and flossing are enough to solve the problem. However, only when gingivitis is at an early stage. When the disease is at a more advanced stage, it is necessary to make an appointment with the dentist.

When the disease gets worse, it is normal for the patient to have difficulties in brushing their teeth, as the bleeding is more intense and they may feel pain.

The treatment consists of a deep cleansing. The professional uses specific instruments to remove the accumulated bacterial plaque and tartar, which are the causes of gingivitis.

If gingivitis is not properly treated, it progresses and evolves into periodontitis — a serious disease that destroys the tissues and ligaments that support teeth.

In addition to causing tooth loss, periodontitis also causes other health problems. This is because the bacteria present in the gums can fall into the bloodstream, causing comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease.

In pregnant women, there is a risk of premature birth and underweight babies.

Now that you know what gingivitis is, be smart and don’t neglect your oral health. And don’t forget, it’s important to go to the dentist every 6 months and always carry out dental prophylaxis, to prevent the disease and maintain oral hygiene.