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What is Gingivitis ?
What is
Gingivitis ?
Gingivitis can be defined as a disease that will typically have
swollen red and bleeding gums. Accrual of plaque and calculus
(tartar) due to improper oral hygiene is the primary cause of
this disorder. Do not ignore these symptoms and the condition as
it can give way to severe gum problems. However, this is a
reversible condition and proper hygiene and oral care will be
able to cure this disease.
How Does Gingivitis Occur ?
After eating food, the tiny particles (of food) get accumulated
in the small spaces between the teeth and the gums. These tiny
particles consist of some harmful bacteria that are responsible
for producing toxins and chemicals around the gums. With time
these toxins and chemicals cause inflammation which at times can
become so severe that it might result in loosing of teeth the
disease known as periodontitis. The teeth are held together in
the jaws by the jaw bones. When there is decay in these bones,
it results in tooth loss. The situation can be avoided by proper
cleaning of the area just below the gum line. It is highly
recommended that a dentist should be consulted in regular
intervals for a professional cleaning. If a cleaning is done
once in every 3 to 4 months, as the bacteria requires that time
frame to grow back and once again restart the inflammation, the
disorder can be cured. Research has shown that gum inflammation,
if not attended to quickly, can lead to various heart related
problems. The harmful toxins and bacteria enter the blood stream
through the gums giving rise to various cardiac issues.
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The root cause of gingivitis is
plaque. So, what is a plaque? A glutinous film of bacteria,
formed from the starch particles (that is present in the food
that we have consumed) and which is invisible to the naked eye
is called plaque. Brushing removes the plaque but it reappears
within one day. So, if you dont do the brushing job properly,
this accumulated plaque gradually hardens and eventually gives
rise to tartar (or calculus as it is commonly called), under the
gumline. The tartar is the home for all the injurious toxins and
bacteria and can only be removed if you undergo professional
cleaning. As the tartar increases, the inflammation and swelling
of the gums also increases.
What are
the Symptoms of this Gum Disorder ?
Listed below are a few of the
symptoms which if present needs to be attended to immediately.
Remember, that at the early stages, gingivitis often goes
unnoticed because it is not painful; however, all or any one of
these signs should act as a warning to seek professional advice. |
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When the gums become dark red or
even purple.
When there is a swelling in the gums.
The gums look unusually bright.
When the thinning gumline is clearly visible
The gums are so sensitive that they start bleeding very easily
The affected gum becomes very itchy.
What are the Causes of Gingivitis ?
As mentioned earlier, the primary cause of gingivitis is plaque
and tartar. However, there are some other causes that can also
be attributed to this ailment:
Drugs Thanks to the
electronic media and the bright and colorful advertisements
today we can buy a wide variety of anti cold and anti depressant
medicines that are available just across the counter. Though
these medications are pretty effective in resisting the cold and
bringing down the depression level, they have a big drawback.
Most of these drugs decrease the saliva production in our mouth.
Saliva, as we all know, acts a natural cleanser by forbidding
the bacteria to grow on our teeth. This obviously brings down
the possibility plaque formation to a great extent. Moreover, a
few of drugs, like certain anti seizure medicines and calcium
channel blockers, actually increases the chance of gingivitis by
causing gingival hyperplasia or an overgrowth of gum tissue.
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Hormonal
Changes Gingivitis is very common to women during
pregnancy. This is because morning sickness and nausea, that
haunts almost every would-be mother, makes it difficult to
follow a healthy and regular oral hygiene pattern.
Other Health Problems
There are some diseases which also cause gingivitis and Leukemia
is one of them. The leukemic cells attack the gums causing
plaque and in turn giving rise to gingivitis. Some other
disorders oral lichus planus (a chronic inflammatory condition)
or pemphigus and pemphigoid (a rare skin disorder) though not
directly related to the mouth, are also responsible for causing
gingivitis.
Viral and
Fungal Infections The viral and fungal infections
also cause gingivitis. The disease gingivostomatitis in which
the gum inflammation is
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accompanied by small, painful
infections in the mouth is caused by the herpes virus. When the
fungal infection inside the mouth becomes serious, some white
wounds are formed on the tongue and inner cheek. These wounds
can even spread all across the palate and gums.
Poor Nutrition This is
very critical. A balanced meal is very important for a healthy
and disease free lifestyle. A diet with inadequate amount of
calcium, Vitamin B and Vitamin C can give rise to gingivitis.
Calcium is the key factor for the strengthening and development
of the bones in our body including our teeth. According to
medical science, the calcium intake of an average adult should
be at least 1,200 milligrams per day and for a pregnant woman
this intake must go up to at least 1,500 milligrams per day.
Vitamin C is responsible for holding the connective tissues of
the body together. Moreover, it is also protects the body from
the free radicals which destroy these tissues. Eating disorder
like anorexia nervosa and also excessive smoking can cut down
the Vitamin C level in our body.
Diabetes Diabetes is
another cause of gingivitis. The high blood sugar level in the
body causes severe damage including the gums.
What are the Treatments ?
The first step of treatment is scaling, which means cleaning
all the plaque and tartar of the teeth and gums. This process
can be done by your dentist though usually a painless
procedure, it can cause some amount of uneasiness if there is an
excessive accumulation of plaque. It is necessary to follow a
good oral hygiene routine after a professional cleaning to
prevent the further appearance of plaque.
Pregnancy and Gingivitis
It is usually seen that most of the pregnant women are victims
of gingivitis. The hormonal increase causes the gums to become
extremely sensitive and reacts with the bacteria present in the
plaque. This enhances the chances of pregnancy gingivitis. The
disease can be present up to 6 months after the delivery.
However, the severity of the problem depends on the situation
that existed before pregnancy.
How can it be Prevented ?
Following these basic rules will prevent this problem:
While buying toothpaste, ensure that it contains fluoride.
Ideally brushing must be done after every meal. However, if
this becomes difficult, make sure that you brush at least once a
day.
It is also important that you brush correctly. Choose the
shape and the size of the brush that will help to clean even the
innermost areas of the cheek and tongue.
Change your brush after every 3 months no matter however new
it looks.
Try using floss as in most of the cases, toothbrush cannot do
the full cleaning.
Most importantly, visit your dentist regularly.
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