What is Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that causes irritation, redness, and inflammation of your gingiva, the part of the gum supporting your teeth. Due to its prevalence, gingivitis will affect the majority of adults at some point in their lives. Gingivitis should be treated right away and with significant consideration. Periodontitis, a far more serious gum condition, and tooth loss can result from gingivitis. Gum disease manifests with symptoms such as red and inflamed gums, soreness, bleeding, receding gumlines, persistent bad breath, and the presence of dissecting, puffy, and irritated gum tissue.
Gingivitis is most commonly caused by plaque formation which when left for a long time transforms into tartar, making bacterial removal harder and irritating gums. Other factors include smoking or tobacco use, older age, dry mouth, poor dietary habits leading to vitamin C deficiency, ill-fitting dental restorations or misaligned teeth that are challenging to clean, hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy, or use of birth control pills, genetic predisposition, and certain viral and fungal infections. These various factors can increase an individual’s susceptibility to gingivitis, emphasizing the importance of maintaining good oral health and addressing potential risk factors.
What is Tartar?
Within just 20 minutes of eating, a combination of food particles, bacteria, carbohydrates, acids, and saliva creates a soft, sticky film on teeth called plaque. If left unattended, it hardens into tartar which provides a favorable surface for further plaque growth. Tartar is easy to spot due to its mineral buildup, often turning yellow or brown as it solidifies. It’s porous and absorbs stains from acidic and tannic substances. This buildup hinders effective brushing and flossing, potentially leading to cavities and tooth decay, especially in difficult-to-reach areas.
Preventing tartar is significantly simpler than treating it. In addition to eliminating bad lifestyle habits like smoking, drinking, skipping meals, etc., it calls for appropriate oral hygiene. To keep your mouth healthy, brush your teeth twice a day and then floss between your teeth to get rid of any food particles. To keep your mouth clean, you should also include frequent mouthwash rinsing and thorough tongue scraping. Once tartar has formed on your teeth, only a professional cleaning can get rid of it. You must see a dentist, who will scale your mouth by using specialized tools to remove tartar from every surface.
Treating gingivitis:
Gum disease is an oral infection brought on by bacteria that stick to the gums and teeth. It usually happens as a result of plaque accumulation on the teeth and is generally curable by improving dental hygiene. If left untreated, it may advance to a stage called periodontitis and result in severe damage to the gums and teeth. Thus, it is vital to take proactive steps to prevent and treat gum diseases.
Give Your Mouth an Improved Routine-
All kinds of dental problems arise if we have a poor oral care routine. If you have gingivitis, you only need to switch to the three-step practice of brushing your teeth twice a day followed by flossing and rinsing. Gingivitis can be stopped in its tracks by brushing after meals, flossing, and using antibacterial mouthwash twice daily. Also, schedule regular dental check-ups as early gum infection is preventable if you swiftly take action.
Use an Expert Antibacterial Mouthwash-
Use a mouthwash designed specifically to fight gingivitis and avoid gum issues with rinsing. Gum Protect Mouthwashes work to prevent plaque and promote healthier gums by battling bacteria both above and below the gum line.
Get a Thorough Cleaning-
If sticking to improved oral health routines isn’t reversing your symptoms, you likely have a more advanced infection where deep, hard-to-reach bacteria pockets have formed around the base of your teeth. A deep cleaning by a dentist every 6 months is the best way to remove tartar and treat gum diseases.
Seek Expert Advice-
If issues continue, antibiotics could be required to completely get rid of the infection-causing microorganisms in your mouth. These include mouthwashes with antibiotics as well as topical gels. Consult a professional before use. Dentists may recommend one of the several types of gum surgery, or even a combination of them to remove deep pockets and inflammation to treat more advanced forms of gum infection.
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