What Is Gingivitis And How To Prevent It

Dentists see many patients each year that have varying degrees of gum disease. Gingivitis is the milder form of gum disease, but if left untreated, it can progress into periodontitis, the more serious type of gum disease that can cause tooth loss. Gingivitis causes inflammation of the gums, which makes them irritated and painful.  The inflammation is caused by the buildup of plaque on the gum line. Because plaque contains bacteria, when the bacteria laden plaque builds up on the gum line, it causes a reaction by the immune system, which in turn causes the inflammation. Gingivitis can also cause mild bleeding to occur when brushing teeth, or even while eating. Following proper oral hygiene routines at home can help to prevent gingivitis.

                                                           
 Preventative Dentistry At Home For Gingivitis
Your Dentist will recommend that you see him if you see evidence of tooth decay or if you experience pain in a tooth, but he will also emphasize the importance of good preventative dentistry procedures, which begin at home. Brushing your teeth properly twice a day, followed by flossing, will remove quite a bit of the plaque that accumulates on the teeth, in between teeth, and along your gum line each time you eat or drink. It is this plaque that, if allowed to remain on teeth, can irritate gums, causing gingivitis. If the gums are neglected after this inflammation sets in, gingivitis can worsen. This can cause your gums to recede and the ligaments and other tissues that hold your teeth in place to weaken, which can allow your teeth to fall out.

Office Cleaning
 Dentists also recommend that you have your teeth professionally cleaned twice per year. This will remove any tartar, a hard buildup of plaque, that has accumulated on or in between your teeth. There are several steps to the cleaning process. An instrument that uses ultrasonic waves to emit vibrations will loosen up the tartar in large pieces, and this is the first step. Next, your mouth will be rinsed with water to remove any loosened pieces of tartar. Any remaining pieces of tartar are then scraped off using either curettes or scalers, special instruments used for this purpose. Once all of the tartar is gone, your teeth will be polished to provide them with a shiny, smooth finish.

Treatment Of Gingivitis
 Before cleaning your teeth, your dentist will examine your gums. If they are inflamed, then he will numb them before begin the cleaning process to alleviate your discomfort. While cleaning all of your teeth, he will focus on the gum line to remove any plaque there. Once the plaque and tartar are removed from the gum line, your gums will quickly heal, and you shouldn’t need any other treatment. Regular brushing and flossing will help to prevent the gingivitis from returning; in addition, using an antiseptic mouth rinse after your brush and floss will help to kill bacteria in your mouth, which will also help to prevent gingivitis.