Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums, usually caused by a bacterial infection. If left untreated, it can become a more serious infection called periodontitis. Gingivitisand periodontitis are major causes of tooth loss in adults. Dental infections can add up, your health and your wallet are at stake. Everything you need to know aboutthis gum disease. in this article.

What causes gingivitis?

Your gums attach to the teeth at a point lower than their edges. This forms a small space calledsulcus. Food and plate can get stuck in this space and cause a gum infection Or gingivitis.

Plaque is a thin layer of bacteria. It is constantly forming on the surface of your teeth. Asthe plaque advances, it hardens and becomesscale. You can develop infection whenplaque extends below the gum.

If left unchecked, gingivitis can lead to the separation of gums and teeth. This can cause injury to the soft tissue and bones that support the teeth. The tooth may becomeloose and unstable. If the infection progresses, you may ultimately lose your tooth or need a dentist to remove it.

Risk factors for gingivitis

Risk factors include:

• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Diabetes
• Use of certain medications (oral contraceptives, steroids, anticonvulsants, calcium channel blockers and chemotherapy)
• Crooked teeth
• Ill-fitting braces
• Pregnancy
• Genetic factors
• Compromised immunity (as with HIV/AIDS)

What are the symptoms of gingivitis?

Many people don't realize they havegingivitis. It is possible to have gum disease without any symptoms. However, the following symptoms may be telltale signs of gingivitis:

• Red, tender or swollen gums
• Bleeding gums when you brush or floss your teeth
• Gums that have pulled out of the teeth
• Loose teeth
• A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite (malocclusion)
• Pus between teeth and gums
• Pain when chewing
• Sensitive teeth
• Partial dentures that no longer fit
• Smelly breath that doesn't go away after brushing your teeth

How is gingivitis diagnosed?

During a dental exam, your gums will be probed with a small ruler. This probing is a wayto check for inflammation. It also measurespockets around the teeth. A normal depth is 1 to 3 millimeters. Your dentist may also ask for x-rays to check for bone loss.

Talk withyour dentist about risk factors for gum diseaseas well as your symptoms. This can help diagnose your gingivitis. If gingivitis is present, you may be referred to a periodontist. A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the treatment of gum disease.

How is gingivitis treated?

You must practice goodoral hygiene to treat gingivitis. You should also reduce your smoking and control your diabetes. Other treatments include:

• Deep cleaning of your teeth
• Antibiotic drugs
• The surgery

Tooth cleaning

Several techniques can be used todeeply clean your teeth without surgery. They all remove plaque and tartar to prevent gum irritation :

• Scaling removes tartar from above and below the gum line
• Root planing smoothes out rough spots and removes plaque and calculus from the root surface.
• Lasers can remove tartar with less pain and bleeding than scaling and root planing.

Drugs

A number of medicationscan be used to treat gingivitis:

• An antiseptic mouthwash containing chlorhexidine can be used to disinfect the mouth.
• Extended-release antiseptic chips containing chlorhexidine can be inserted into pockets after root planing.
• Antibiotic microspheres made with minocycline can be inserted into pockets after stripping and planing.
• Oral antibiotics can be used to treat persistent areas of gum inflammation.
• Doxycycline, an antibiotic can prevent enzymes from causing damage to teeth.
• Flap surgery is a procedure in which the gums are lifted while plaque and tartar are removed from deeper pockets. The gums are then sutured in place to fit snugly around the tooth.
• Bone and tissue grafts can be used when the teeth and jaw are too damaged to heal.

How to prevent gingivitis?

Gingivitis can be prevented by adequate and consistent oral hygiene. Make sure you have a balanced diet and visit the dentist regularly. Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Floss every day.

Health problems associated with gingivitis

The Trusted Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research report that gingivitis is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, something.stroke and lung disease. It also increases the risk that a woman will give birth to a preterm or low birth weight baby. Although gingivitis is associated with these health problems, it has not been proven. The connection between them will require more research.

Sources:

Gum disease. (North Dakota).
ada.org/en/Home-MouthHealthy/az-topics/g/gum-disease
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Gingivitis: symptoms and causes.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gingivitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354453