What is gingivitis?
Some of you may have come across this term once or twice while some may have not. For those of you who haven’t heard of it yet, if you’ve guessed that it has to be some type of condition, go ahead and give yourselves a pat on the back.
Gingivitis is a medical term that stands for the “Inflammation of the Gums”.
Inflammation, which is the swelling and reddening of tissue may not sound that bad. But paired with what comes out of this swelling, is a picture you wouldn’t want to see, let alone, be in. Why? What happens?
As your gums start to swell it starts to push itself from your teeth. This causes your gums to bleed. Even worse it can form abscess- a collection of pus- to build up in your mouth. Left untreated this condition could worsen and might even lead to periodontitis, an irreversible form of gingivitis.
As every other condition though, there is a reason behind why it happens. Lucky for us, gingivitis is only hereditary in the sense that there is a higher likelihood of you developing it if your parents have it but only when paired with other factors of course. Below are some of the factors that increase your chances of developing gingivitis.
Factors that increase susceptibility for gingivitis:
- Smoking or chewing of tobacco
- Dry mouth
- Poor Nutrition – a lack of vitamin C
- Old Age
- Immunity decreasing conditions such as AIDS/HIV, leukemia or cancer treatment
- Certain drugs such as calcium channel blockers which are used for angina and high blood pressure, and phenytoin for epileptic seizures.
- Hormonal changes
- Viral and fungal infections and
- Poor oral hygiene (read these oral hygiene tips for a better oral health)
Among these factors, the most common trigger for gingivitis is poor oral hygiene that causes:
Plaque Build-up in teeth:
Invisible and sticky, this bacteria form on teeth when starch and sugar interact with it. To remedy this it is required that you remove plaque or anything that can trigger its growth from your mouth, teeth and gums every-day.
Plaque turning into tartar:
Over time, plaque’s soft and pudgy form hardens under gum-line becoming tartar and collecting bacteria from every bit of plaque you leave on your teeth. Creating a hard protective shield, it is harder to remove and you would require professional dental cleaning to have it taken care of.
So I should just brush my teeth after every meal right?
Yes, of course. Good oral practices are advised to not just cure but to avoid gum and teeth conditions altogether. If you can feel the tall tale signs of gingivitis are starting to your teeth though, it would be best to consult a dental professional to have your plaque and tartar removed. Although it may be uncomfortable especially when tartar build-up has become extensive and gums are sensitive, it will feel so much better afterwards.
For Gingivitis treatment in Brampton, Ontario you can schedule an appointment with Roycrest Dental Center the most experienced dentist in Brampton.