Red, swollen or bleeding gums are a sure sign that your mouth isn’t in the shape it should be. Most likely you’re suffering from some form of gum disease or gingivitis. Fortunately, you’re not alone as most North Americans (about 50% of all Canadians) have experienced a similar problem at some point in their lives. Gingivitis is a treatable condition but first you need to know you have it and then take steps to deal with the problem, and that’s where the real issue lies – most people who have gingivitis don’t even know it.
What is Gingivitis?
If your gums are affected by gingivitis, you’ll notice they are a deeper red than normal, swollen and tender. They’ll likely bleed when you brush and floss, as well as not look the normal light pink colour that they should. Gingivitis is also usually accompanied with bad breath and causes receding gums if left untreated. The issue is common enough but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t serious. Untreated gingivitis leads to a type of gum disease called periodontitis. Periodontitis is a more problematic condition that will spread into the supporting tissue of your gums and into the jaw bone, all of which will end in tooth loss and jaw degeneration.
Who’s at risk of gingivitis?
Anyone, at any age can develop gingivitis if their oral care routine is lacking, but there are certain risk factors that can elevate the likelihood of gingivitis developing. Factors that can increase the risk of gingivitis include:
- A bad oral hygiene routine
- Smoking, use of chewing tobacco or snuss tobacco
- Dry mouth
- Ageing
- Genetics
- Changes in hormones, such as pregnancy or menstrual cycles
- Lowered immune system
- Vitamin C deficiency
- Generally poor nutrition
- Certain medications
- Misaligned teeth that make cleaning difficult
- Improperly fitting dental restorations
Complications associated with Gingivitis
Living with gingivitis isn’t a good idea as this will lead to the development of periodontitis, a much more serious infection of the gums that will cause degeneration of the jaw bone and soft tissues necessary to support your teeth. Recent research also suggests possible correlations between periodontitis and other health concerns like certain cancers, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and respiratory problems.
How to stop gingivitis
Understanding gingivitis and diagnosing it are the first steps to treating the disease. Luckily, stopping or preventing gingivitis is fairly easy to do with the following tips and advice.
Practice proper oral hygiene: Preventing gingivitis is all about keeping your mouth clean and healthy. Brush your teeth at least twice every day – in the morning and before bed. To go the extra mile, lightly brush or rinse your mouth after every meal or snacks. Add flossing once a day to your routine and consider a gentle mouthwash. Devices like a WaterPik can work wonders in preventing gingivitis as well.
Make sure to visit your dentist regularly: Step one is a good oral care routine, and step two is getting your dentist to professionally clean your teeth. These professional cleanings should happen at least twice per year (every six months) unless you are at higher risk in which case more frequent visits may be recommended.
Keep your body healthy: Total body health is great for everything, inducing preventing gingivitis. Eat healthy foods, drink lots of water and reduce your sugar intake as much as is possible.
Gingivitis treatment options
If you’ve been diagnosed with gingivitis, there’s a few different treatment options available. These will include both at home, and at the dentist treatments to get rid of the nasty gum disease. Creating the best treatment plan for you is something best discussed with your dentist, so you can ensure you’re taking all the right steps to correct the problem.
At home gingivitis treatments
Use an antibacterial toothpaste: Used to effectively combat gingivitis, an antibacterial toothpaste works great because it continues to fight harmful plaque even after you’ve brushed your teeth.
Brush effectively: Speak with your dental care professional to figure out if the way your brushing your teeth is proper. This will usually include switching from a manual toothbrush to an electric and giving extra attention to around your gum line where bacteria bui8lds up the most.
Use an antibacterial mouthwash: To be used along with your antibacterial toothpaste, a cleansing mouthwash will help finish the job of removing bacteria and plaque form hard to get to places.
Professional gingivitis treatments
Prescription antimicrobial mouthwash: An antimicrobial mouthwash is meant to be used as part of your daily oral care routine, just as a regular mouthwash is.
Antibiotic gel: Applying an antibiotic gel to your gum pockets is often prescribed by dentist after a deep cleaning has been performed.
Professional deep cleaning: This isn’t your regular cleaning check up with your dentist. For a deep cleaning, there are special tools required to remove plaque bacteria from below the gumline and help clear up gingivitis.
The best treatment for gingivitis is prevention and being informed as to its causes, symptoms and treatments. Proper oral health care together with regular dental check-ups and cleaning is the number one way to avoid complications caused by gingivitis.
