Gingivitis

Gingivitis

Gingivitis also known as bleeding gums is the inflammation of gums due to bad oral hygiene. It is one of the periodontal diseases that affect the tissues surrounding teeth and gums. If not treated in time then gingivitis can lead to more serious gum problems like periodontitis and may eventually lead to the destruction of bone and tooth loss. You may already have gingivitis and may not know it because early stage gum diseases are seldom painful.

Gingivitis is a form
of gum inflammation that is rather common and is often the beginning of gum disease or periodontal disease. Gingivitis often represents the onset of bacterial growth in the mouth and if the condition is neglected or not treated appropriately it could progress steadily to cause tooth loss due to deterioration and destruction of the tissue surrounding the teeth. Keep in mind that although gingivitis may precede periodontitis, it is not necessary for gingivitis to always be indicative of, or progress to periodontitis.

Gingivitis takes shape in the beginning with the buildup of bacteria in plaque, causing inflammation and reddening of the gums. The gums may become susceptible to bleeding because of the severity of inflammation and this may be particularly problematic when brushing the teeth. In the early stages of gingivitis the teeth are unlikely to be loose or shaky as they are still firmly planted since there is not much chance of any irreversible bone or tissue damage.

Symptoms of Gingivitis

The signs of gingivitis are not very hard to recognize, but it would be impossible for a lay person to correctly identify the cause of inflammation or bleeding, or any other symptom you might be experiencing. Your dentist would be most capable of making an accurate assessment of the symptoms of gingivitis and would recommend the appropriate treatment for gingivitis.

Inflammation, swelling, redness and pain or possible bleeding of the gums are some of the most common signs of gingivitis.
Gingivitis also causes bad breath or halitosis that would be impossible to miss.
Gingivitis is also likely to cause some kind of discoloration of the gums and structural changes. The gums may show signs of receding and could appear to be reddened and inflamed rather than the healthy pink color they normally have. Changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite down or clench your teeth could be noticeable and for those who wear dentures you may notice changes in the way the dentures fit.
The gums may not cause any pain but may be tender and painful when touched.
Your gums would be a lot weaker and you would probably notice that they are a lot more susceptible to trauma, bleeding very often when brushing your teeth.
In the more advanced stages the formation of pockets between the gum and teeth may be quite pronounced and easily noticeable, because of the state of deterioration of gum tissue and bone.
The bone and gum tissue loss will also cause the teeth to become loose or shift.
Painful gums, bleeding while brushing, red gums, swollen gums, tender gums, bad breath and bad taste in mouth are some of the symptoms of gingivitis.

Causes of Gingivitis

When you talk about the possible gingivitis causes the first one that comes to mind is the buildup of plaque deposits. Plaque is a stick kind of debris that builds up on the teeth from deposits of food, bacteria and mucus that accumulate on the exposed areas of tooth and it is the primary cause of tooth decay. The most effective method of controlling the problem is through proper dental care, which would involve brushing the teeth, gargling, and cleaning the tongue. Failure to control plaque buildup will result in the formation of tartar, which is a hardened deposit towards the base of the tooth. Plaque and bacteria cause inflammation to the gums and a weakening of the teeth. In addition the release of bacteria and toxins from plaque or tartar further aggravates or irritates the gums causing gingivitis.

Injury to the gums from trauma, which could even include brushing or flossing the teeth too vigorously, may also cause gingivitis.
Misaligned or broken teeth, ill fitted fillings or poorly fitted and badly designed braces or dentures can also cause severe irritation to the gums and may also lead to infection or simply increase the risk of developing gingivitis.
Certain medications like birth control pills and phenytoin are also known to aggravate or increase the risk of gingivitis.
Hormonal changes may also make you susceptible to gingivitis because of increased sensitivity of the gums during pregnancy, menopause, or puberty.
Smoking and poor oral hygiene greatly increase the risk of developing gingivitis.
Certain diseases like HIV, diabetes and cancer or even seemingly harmless problems like a dry mouth can also contribute to the development of gingivitis.
It is caused by local irritants. Plaque, bacteria and food particles accumulating between the gums and the teeth cause gingivitis. Although these accumulations may be very small, the toxic chemicals produced by the bacteria in them causes the inflammation of gums.

Besides plaque, some other reasons for gingivitis are drugs, viral and fungal infections, hormonal changes during pregnancy and puberty, poor nutrition, medication and so on.

Remedies for Gingivitis

Use mouthwash containing sage oil, peppermint oil, menthol, chamomile tincture etc
Use toothpaste containing sage oil, peppermint oil etc.
Use of products made from essential oils helps cure gingivitis.
Gargle twice a day by a home made saline solution by putting a pinch of salt in a glass of lukewarm water. This will reduce the swelling in your mouth.
Rub your gums with clove oil or you can also keep one or clove in your mouth.
Use anti bacterial mouth wash to reduce the swelling on the gums.
Diet for Gingivitis

Gingivitis patients should consume low saturated fats. They must include lots of fresh fruits, and vegetables in their diet. They must eat a diet rich in fiber. People deficient in Vitamin C are at increased risk for periodontal disease. They must take Vitamin C supplements to improve the gum health. Eating vitamin C rich foods is beneficial. Avoid sugar, fruit juices, white flour, white rice, soft drinks, and syrups.