Fighting Gingivitis

Are your gums bleeding when you brush your teeth? Then you might be a victim of gingivitis. A disease that can lead to poor oral health. While this disease is a common condition among dental patients, leaving it unattended can significantly harm your gums. Treating gingivitis when it appears is the key to prevent periodontitis. Find out how gingivitis can affect you and how to fight this troubling condition.

Signs and Symptoms of Gingivitis

If you have ever experienced irritation, redness, and swelling, then you might have gingivitis. These are the most noticeable symptoms people experience. However, many are unaware that they have the condition. Since its symptoms are mild, it is sometimes hard to tell if you have the gum disease.

Here is what you need to know. Gingivitis turns you gums a bright red or purple color. Healthy gums are not this color. When your gums are unaffected by gingivitis, they are pale pink, and firm. If you are affected by the condition, your gums might display the following symptoms:

• Swelling
• Soft, Puffy Coloration
• Receding
• Tenderness
• Bleeding

Some of these symptoms are noticeable, like the tenderness and bleeding. The former causes pain when the gums are touched, while the latter causing the gums to be fragile and bleed easily. Patients usually experience these symptoms when they are brushing their teeth.

Getting Rid of Gingivitis

Gingivitis primarily occurs when you improperly brush and floss your teeth. Other causes include tobacco use, substance abuse, bad oral habits, other diseases, and poor nutrition. When you have poor oral hygiene, plaque begins to build up. This bacterium resurfaces daily, so it is imperative that you have a proper daily oral regimen.

Good oral hygiene involves the following:

• Brushing twice a day. Both day and night.
• Using an automatic toothbrush instead of a normal one.
• Using mouthwash that contains fluoridated hydrogen peroxide.
• Flossing daily.
• Visiting your local dentist office for frequent checkups.

If plague is allowed to build up for more than a couple of days, it turns into a hard substance called tarter, which surrounds your teeth. This traps the bacteria in your gums, making it much harder to remove. Brushing and flossing usually do not help to remove this substance. The hardened plaque can lead to other diseases like periodontist, which causes tooth damage and loss. When tarter starts to build around your teeth and gums, it is advised that you see a dental professional for help.