Oral health issues are extremely common in the United States and among them, one of the most common diseases is gingivitis. This is a disease where healthy gums start getting inflamed, typically due to the presence of a bacterial infection. Gingivitis is a relatively mild disease, with swollen gums typically being the only common symptom in most patients. However, if left untreated, it can quickly turn into something more serious called periodontal gum disease or periodontitis. In this article, we will be talking about gingivitis in detail, including its causes, risk factors, symptoms, and gingivitis treatment as well. Read on to find out more about this disease.
Causes of Gingivitis and Periodontitis
Since periodontitis is only a severe form of gingivitis, the beginning symptoms are the same for both diseases. The thing that causes it to form is the presence of bacteria, something we see quite often in the form of plaque. This itself is a thin bacterial film that eventually goes into your gums. You can remove plaque easily by going to a dentist for a scaling session, where professional cleaning processes remove it completely from your teeth. Of course, if not done on time, it turns the plaque into tartar which goes into your gum line and starts causing problems. The resulting issues can cause damage to bone and soft tissue around the teeth, causing the tooth to eventually become loose and even fall off if not taken care of properly.
What are the Risk Factors Accelerating the Need for Dental Plaque Treatments
There are many risk factors that can lead to a gum infection in the form of gingivitis and periodontitis. The impact level of each of the risk factors varies a lot and even in each factor, there are multiple conditions that affect how fast the problem ends up progressing. The following are the most common risk factors for gingivitis and periodontal disease:
– Consumption of tobacco and smoking
– Crooked teeth
– Genetic tendencies
– Diabetes
– Pregnancy
– Low immunity (from HIV, etc.)
– Improper oral care
– Different types of medications, including steroids, calcium channel blockers, contraceptives, chemotherapy medicine, etc.
A good dentist like Laser Dentistry Near Me can provide you with a list of items suited to your specific case that you can do to detect periodontitis gingivitis as soon as they occur.
Symptoms Identifying Need for Gum Disease Treatment Dentist
It is necessary that you know how to identify signs of gum disease and here are the most common ones:
– Gums swelling or getting tender and red
– Gap forming between gums and teeth
– Bleeding from gums when brushing and flossing
– Teeth becoming loose
– Formation of pus between gums and teeth
– Constantly foul breath, even after brushing your teeth
– Bite force is affected and feels different
– Sensitivity in teeth and pain from chewing food
You can have one or a combination of these symptoms telling you that you may need gum infection treatment. The best time to visit a dentist is as soon as you find these symptoms. Early-stage gum disease treatment can save you from a lot of trouble in the future, especially when done from a reliable dental office like Laser Dentistry Near Me.
Gingivitis Dental Cleaning and Treatment Method
If you are smart about diagnosing gum disease in your mouth and getting it checked on time, you might get away with just good oral hygiene practices that your dentist may recommend. They may advise some lifestyle changes which, if done properly, might be able to reverse the disease completely. However, if that does not work, you may be looking at other options, which can include any of the following:
- A) Teeth cleansing: This can be done in multiple ways, including scaling, root planning, or even surgery using laser periodontitis treatment.
- B) Medication: This can be used if suitable for your situation and your dentist can determine it easily. They may prescribe antiseptic mouthwash, oral antibiotics, antiseptic chips, or even doxycycline.
- C) Surgical Intervention: This is the last stage of treatment when all else fails or is not viable at all. Treatment can include flap surgery, gum tissue and bone grafting, and dental crown elongation.
Preventive Measures Against Advanced Periodontitis
To avoid seeing yourself in need of a periodontal dentist or even prevent gingivitis completely, you can take some easy steps for effective results. These include the following:
– Flossing your teeth every day to clean the area between teeth properly.
– Brushing twice a day with a good toothpaste that contains fluoride.
– Making a habit of visiting your dentist regularly, especially a good one like Laser Dentistry Near Me.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can gingivitis be cured?
Yes, it is possible to cure gingivitis using good gum care and medication if needed. Your dentist can tell you the best way to treat this disease effectively.
- What is the best medicine for gingivitis?
Medication for gingivitis depends on individual cases; your dentist can tell you exactly which medicine would work best for your case.
- How long does gingivitis take to go away?
Typically, the treatment for gingivitis can last anywhere from 10 days to 2 weeks. Of course, this also requires excellent oral care during recovery.
Concluding Gum Treatment Near Me
Gingivitis is not a scary disease if you detect it early and take the right steps to make sure you nip it in the bud. However, to do that, you also need to be in touch with a good dentist. For people in Houston Memorial, Laser Dentistry Near Me is a great option to avail. They offer online booking 24/7 and have a live chat option and a direct phone number too that you can use to get in touch with them.
