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What is Gingivitis? – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

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Introduction

Gingivitis is one of the periodontal diseases with the highest prevalence. You will likely develop this disease if your gums are swollen, red, or bleeding. In this case, it is a priority that you visit the dental clinic to prevent the condition from taking its course and becoming periodontitis. At the Acacias Dental Clinic, we are committed to conservative dentistry, and we can help you avoid oral health problems that could damage your smile.

What is Gingivitis?

To understand how the gums and periodontium work, it is essential to know what gingivitis is and why it occurs. It is the first phase of gum disease. At this time, the condition is entirely reversible because it has not yet damaged the supporting tissues of the teeth. However, if we do not remedy it as soon as possible, the evolution will lead to pyorrhea or periodontitis. At this time, the pathology is irreversible and can lead to tooth loss .

Gingivitis appears due to oral bacteria that have not been eliminated. In other disputes, if you don’t brush your teeth thoroughly, the bacterial plaque will calcify, turning into tartar and endangering your smile.

Main Causes of Gingivitis

As we have mentioned, the leading cause of gingivitis is the presence of bacterial plaque that is not removed by oral hygiene techniques. Despite this, other factors increase the risk of suffering from this oral condition.

Oral Hygiene

Oral Hygiene

incorrect oral hygiene is behind the formation of gingivitis. To prevent this, you should visit the dentist regularly and follow oral cleaning routines. In addition to tooth brushing, it is essential to carry out an excellent interdental cleaning with interproximal brushes or dental floss. The use of the oral irrigator and a good mouthwash helps a lot to maintain a healthy smile.

Daily Diet

Very sweet or acidic foods are great for feeding oral bacteria. Therefore, avoiding eating these foods as much as possible is crucial.

Bad Habits

unhealthy habits, such as tobacco, are behind the appearance of gingivitis. In addition, smoking masks some of its symptoms, preventing them from being quickly remedied.

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes, particularly in women, can lead to the appearance of gingivitis. Therefore, it is essential to have reasonable dental control during pregnancy, adolescence, and menopause.

Systemic Diseases

some systemic pathologies, such as diabetes, increase the risk of suffering from dental diseases related to the periodontium.

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Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

The symptoms of gingivitis are apparent and show up quite quickly. At Acacias, we want you to learn to detect any possible damage to your teeth and gums. For this reason, if you present any of these signs, you must come to the dental clinic to schedule an appropriate and personalized treatment for you:

  • Swollen or inflamed gums.
  • Bleeding gums: if your gums bleed during brushing, you should know that it is because something is not working correctly.
  • Red gums the gums should have a pinkish color, never red.
  • Bad breath: halitosis is also a clear symptom of gingivitis.

Treatment of Gingivitis

As we have told you, gingivitis begins the periodontal disease. It means that by carrying out the appropriate treatment, you can return all health to your mouth. Of course, going to the dentist when you detect the first symptoms is a priority since we must always prevent the pathology from advancing. In this way, we stop the disease before the damage is irreparable.

Improve Dental Hygiene Routines

the first thing that Acacia’s dentist will recommend is that you optimize your dental cleaning. Do not forget to clean the interdental spaces, the tongue, and the inner face of the cheeks.

Professional Dental Cleaning

the dental cleaning or prophylaxis that we carry out at Acacias is a perfect solution to remove bacterial plaque and tartar from your smile. Remember that tartar can only be released in the dental office since it is necessary to use specific tools.

Dental Curettage

Dental curettage is a much more specialized prophylaxis performed under the gums. If periodontal pockets have begun to form, scaling and root planing (curettage) is a necessary treatment.

Crown Lengthening

at Acacias, we plan customized dental treatments. Crown lengthening is an oral operation procedure that allows us to redesign the gum line, exposing a more significant amount of teeth. Dr. Pedro Ruiz, our oral surgeon, is the one who will assess whether it is necessary to carry out this procedure.

Gingivectomy

in some cases, gingivitis injures a part of the gum, and we need to remove it so that the bacteria do not damage the tissues that support the teeth. In many cases, carrying out these surgical procedures is unnecessary, but it is essential to assess your particular case.

Conclusion

Conventional gingivitis treatment consists of removing tartar and plaque deposits. However, this may not be enough to adequately control the disease, mainly if carried out by inexperienced hands or in a hurry.

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