GINGIVITIS

Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease. It can be difficult for someone to recognize this condition since the symptoms can be subtle, but the experienced dental team at Natural Smiles in Louisville, KY, will notice the complication right away. Catch the problem early enough, undergo appropriate treatment, and it is possible to stop the problem from progressing and avoid the many complications of full-blown gum disease.

Common Signs of Gingivitis

Gingivitis doesn’t sneak up on anyone. It takes time to develop, but once the condition exists, it becomes clearer and clearer that something isn’t right. Discomfort is a major side effect of gum disease. Here are some of the most common signs of gingivitis:

• Redness
• Swollen gums
• Sore gums
• Bleeding gums
• Tender gums
• Gum recession
• Bad breath

Causes of Gingivitis

There are many possible causes of gingivitis. The problems will vary for each patient. Here are some of the most common contributions to this serious gum problem:

• Poor oral hygiene: It is essential to brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day. Neglecting either of these steps makes all the difference between good and bad gum health. Dental floss is designed to move bacteria and plaque away from the gumline, where it does not belong.
• Not visiting the dentist: Avoiding a visit to the dentist every six months can be a disaster for a person’s oral health. It’s essential to have your teeth and gums closely monitored to keep problems like gingivitis from developing or to treat the discomfort immediately before it grows bigger.
• Teeth grinding: You may take great care of your teeth but if you grind them at night, this little form of aggression can lead to gum recession which invites in bacteria and leads to gingivitis.
• Heavy brushing: Aggressively brushing your teeth might feel like you’re making them cleaner, but this habit only irritates the gums and contributes to gum recession, which delivers a gateway for bacteria and the development of gingivitis.
• Genetics: Even though behavior is clearly the biggest indicator for developing gingivitis, there is a genetic component too. If your parents have this oral health problem, you’re more likely to develop it too.

How to Treat Gingivitis

If you only have gingivitis and nothing more complex, consider yourself fortunate. The disease has not spread throughout your mouth yet or threatened you with severe oral health problems, like tooth loss. When gingivitis is discovered, expect to be presented with several periodontal treatments to correct the complication:

• Laser gum therapy: A non-invasive procedure that demolishes plaque and tartar, laser gum therapy directly removes the irritation that causes gingivitis and also promotes healing.
• Deep teeth cleaning: The traditional method of treating early gum disease, scaling and root planing involves moving the gums away from the tooth, identifying build-up, and scraping it away from the teeth and under the gums.
• Antibiotics: Gingivitis is a bacterial infection, just like full-blown gum disease. Your dentist is likely to prescribe some form of antibiotics, often in the form of a mouth wash.
• More dental visits: Anyone who develops gingivitis needs to be carefully watched by their dentist to ensure that their oral health problem does not come back. Frequent appointments – sooner than just every six months – are likely to be recommended.

Get Gingivitis Treatment in Louisville, KY

Gingivitis always turns into gum disease if you do not get the problem treated. If you suspect that there is anything wrong with your gums, or you’re experiencing pain or discomfort, schedule an appointment at Natural Smiles. Don’t wait until your next dental visit – address the problem now before it grows.