Gingivitis, also known as gum disease, affects almost 90% of the adult population. It is so common that many people have even gotten used to that slight bleeding that occurs when brushing their teeth. But gingivitis, treatable and reversible in its early stages, can become complicated and even lead to tooth loss.
For this reason, in this article we want to explain in depth what is gingivitis, as well as its possible causes, treatment and prevention measures. But first of all, if your gums bleed when you brush your teeth, we recommend that you go to your dentist immediately, to establish the health of your gums and prevent the disease from advancing. It will also be necessary to rule out other causes, such as advanced gum disease (periodontitis) or blood disorders (such as alterations in the coagulation of the gums. This is why a destruction of coagulation occurs).
What is gingivitis?
It is a disease of bacterial origin, which occurs when plaque or biofilm builds up around the teeth. The bacteria present in plaque attack the soft tissue surrounding the tooth, causing redness, inflammation and bleeding.
Gingivitis is the first phase of the so-called "gum disease". In a more advanced stage it becomes periodontitis, when the disease has affected the bone and the damage is irreversible. In advanced periodontitis, tooth loss can even occur due to loss of support from the bone and gum that surrounds the tooth. We could say that the body's defense system flees from bacteria, which is why there is destruction of the tissue, which migrates towards the root to get away from the infection.
Gingivitis symptoms
If you present one or more of the following symptoms, you may have gingivitis, although you should visit a specialist to diagnose it properly.
- Red and/or swollen gums.
- Gums sensitive to touch, even if they do not hurt.
- Bleeding when brushing or flossing your teeth.
- Bad breath or bad taste in the mouth.
- Receding gums, which make the teeth look longer.
Treatment and prevention of gingivitis
The first thing we must do is go to the specialist to make a detailed and accurate diagnosis of the state of health of the gums. The periodontogram is the diagnostic tool. Then comes the treatment, a thorough cleaning to remove the tartar accumulated around the teeth. It will be very important during this visit to receive the necessary information to improve our hygiene at home and motivate us to take action, that is, to improve the care of our mouth. From here, we must follow the hygiene tips provided by the specialist, for example:
- Brush your teeth with a brush of medium hardness and making a few movements that do not damage the gums.
- Use interdental brushes.
- Floss your teeth after each brushing.
- Complement hygiene with a mouthwash (only if necessary and the dentist tells us to).
In addition to these oral hygiene habits, there are other health and eating habits that also influence gingivitis to a greater or lesser extent, such as smoking. Tobacco causes and aggravates periodontal diseases.
A good diet and a healthy life in general also help us prevent this type of disease, since the body is in better conditions to fight infections.
Factors that can aggravate gingivitis
There are other factors that can aggravate this problem and that do not directly depend on our habits, so they are not so easy to modify or solve. However, our dentist can advise us in these cases:
- A malposition of the teeth, which makes it more difficult to remove plaque and tartar.
- Hormonal changes, either during pregnancy, menopause, or from the use of oral contraceptives.
- Some systemic diseases, such as diabetes.
- Some medications, such as immunosuppressant treatments.
Our best advice is that if you think you may have gingivitis, don't let it go and see your dentist immediately. It is much easier to solve this problem at an early stage than at an advanced stage.