Gum disease is no laughing matter.
Gum disease – otherwise known as periodontitis – is a serious condition that not only affects your gums, but your overall health.
One important thing to note before we go on – gum disease is often preceded by gingivitis, a buildup of plaque and bacteria in the mouth that causes bleeding gums. If you have gingivitis, you will want to consult a dentist as soon as possible.
Gum disease has many harmful symptoms that can lead to gum pain, tooth decay, and other negative conditions. Gingivitis is a common disease many people develop which is often the precursor to gum disease. Read below about gingivitis and gum disease – and as always, consult a dentist if you believe you may have gingivitis or gum disease.
What is Gingivitis?
Simply put, gingivitis is an infection of the gums caused by bacteria in plaque buildup.
The most common causes for plaque buildup is a weak dental cleaning regimen. Many people who do not floss – even if they brush every day – will develop gingivitis at some point in their lives.
Plaque buildup produces toxins that irritate gums. Many people who have gingivitis will experience gum pain or gum bleeding – either by itself, or when they brush their teeth.
Is Gingivitis Contagious?
The bacteria that causes gingivitis is often trapped underneath the gums. Only when saliva gains access to this bacteria can be it be spread.
That means gingivitis itself isn’t contagious, except through exchanging saliva. All expert dentists will suggest not exchanging saliva through sharing food or utensils with someone who has gingivitis.
How to Cure Gingivitis
Curing gingivitis is a relatively easy procedure compared to other dental diseases.
The most important part of curing and fighting back against gingivitis is by optimizing your dental health regiment.
- Brush three times a day
- Floss before or after brushing
- Use antibacterial toothpaste
- Use a powerful mouthwash after brushing
If you have gingivitis, you can fight back against future gum disease, a condition that is much harder to cure.
If Gingivitis Turns into Gum Disease
Gum disease – otherwise known as periodontal disease – is a serious condition.
Caused by the prolonged buildup of plaque and bacteria, periodontal disease often causes receding gums, tooth loss, and even more bleeding in gums than gingivitis.
Treatments for gum disease range from changing your daily habits and quitting smoking (if you’re a smoker) to medications and scaling – a process of physically removing the tartar buildup in gums that causes gum disease.
Regardless of what you do, any and all treatments for gum disease and gingivitis require that you maintain a healthy dental regimen at home. That includes brushing, flossing, using mouthwash, and hitting all the hard-to-reach places in your mouth, including the back molars.
If you think you are suffering from gingivitis or periodontal disease, contact Hitek Dental immediately – our experienced dentists use their expertise to help keep your mouth happy, so you don’t have to fight gingivitis alone