May people take good gum health for granted, not thinking about the role gums play in protecting dental health. But you can’t have a healthy mouth without strong, healthy, disease-free gums. Your gums help protect your teeth and jawbone, creating a seal around your teeth and ensuring they remain firmly in place. If you notice your gums look red or swollen, instead of a healthy pink colour, or they bleed slightly, especially when you brush or floss, you may have gingivitis in Bowmanville.
Gingivitis is an early form of gum disease and develops when dental plaque and tartar start to build up on teeth. The bacteria in these substances produce toxins that infect and inflame gums. While gingivitis is reversible, more serious gum disease, called periodontitis, can become chronic. Periodontitis can require ongoing dental care to control it and prevent it from worsening. Gingivitis is very common, and many adults will experience signs of this condition at some point. Gum disease is one of the major reasons why regular dental checkups at West Bowmanville Family Dental are so important.
What Causes Gingivitis?
Gingivitis can be caused due to numerous factors, including genetics, ageing, dry mouth, poor nutrition and health conditions that can impact oral health. However, it is frequently down to poor oral hygiene. If you don’t brush frequently enough or long enough and fail to floss daily, dental plaque will soon build up over your teeth and gums and quickly hardens into calculus or tartar. A buildup of these substances exposes your gums to harmful toxins produced by the bacteria in plaque and tartar, resulting in infected and inflamed gums. Without professional dental care, gingivitis can soon progress into periodontitis in Newcastle. Periodontitis can eventually cause tooth loss or affect overall health.
What are the Symptoms of Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is sometimes called a silent disease because the early signs are subtle. Consequently, many people will ignore or miss them. Signs to be aware of include:
- Swollen gums
- Red coloured gums
- Gums that bleed easily
- Gum recession, so teeth can look longer than you remember
- Gums that feel tender when lightly pressed
- Bad breath, even after you clean your teeth
These signs are detected easily during your regular dental appointments in Clarington, but if it has been a while since you last saw a dentist and some of these signs sound familiar, book an appointment to come and see us as soon as you can. The sooner you see a dentist, the greater the chance we can reverse these signs entirely, restoring gum health.
How is Gingivitis Treated?
When gingivitis is treated early enough, you might only need to have your teeth cleaned professionally. A professional dental cleaning in Courtice removes all plaque and tartar buildup, eliminating the bacteria infecting and inflaming your gums. The second part of treatment may involve reviewing your oral care routine. Our hygienist will work with you and can show you better ways to brush and floss effectively or discuss alternative toothbrushes, dental floss or other tools to try. You must commit to cleaning your teeth thoroughly after treatment, even though initially, your gums may bleed slightly. As they become stronger and healthier, they will stop bleeding, so you must persevere and will soon see positive results.
If your gum infection is more severe and has caused some gum recession, you might need to have your teeth and exposed tooth roots deep cleaned. Other possible treatments may include antibiotics to help eliminate the infection, and you might need to have your teeth professionally cleaned more frequently to maintain the results.