Gingivitis is gum disease that results from a bacterial infection of the tissue surrounding the teeth and gums.
Contents
Classification
There are two types of gingivitis:
- Acute gingivitis is a reversible inflammation that heals in a few weeks. Some species are listed here.
Mouth rot can occur together with stomatitis and be caused by the virus herpes zoster.
Ulcerative gingivitis can cause stomatitis. - Chronic gingivitis is a disorder that causes inflammation, pain, and swelling of the gums and can last for several years or progress into periodontitis (or pyorrhea).
- Hypertrophic gingivitis is a chronic disease characterized by thickening of the gums and bleeding.
- Marginal gingivitis affects only the edges of the gums.
- Gingivitis desquamativa is caused by skin injuries.
- Hormonal gingivitis has a temporary character and occurs in women during the menstrual cycle or during pregnancy.
Causes of gingivitis
The bacteria in the mouth form a sticky, clear substance on the teeth. This substance is called dental plaque and creates toxins that damage the gums.
If the plaque is not removed, it causes tartar, i.e. hardened plaque.
If left untreated, this can lead to the loss of the tooth, i.e. to periodontitis in an advanced stage.
Periodontitis is a condition in which the gums detach from the teeth and form pockets that become infected. This infection spreads to the bone and causes the loss of the tooth.
This clinical picture can occur due to:
- Poor dental hygiene
- Smoking and chewing tobacco
- Poor nutrition
- High stress
- Hereditary dental problems
- Leukemia, gingivitis can be a symptom of this type of cancer
- Rare visits to the dentist
In children, infantile gingivitis can occur especially if they have type 1 diabetes or practice poor oral hygiene.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy may also be responsible for gingivitis. Other factors that can lead to the development of gingivitis include poor diet and medication side effects. The first signs of this condition are not painful, but over time the gums can hurt very much.
Bacterial gingivitis cannot be transmitted through a kiss and is not a sexually transmitted disease.
Symptoms of gingivitis
- One of the most noticeable signs is that the gums begin to bleed rapidly.
This is especially common when brushing your teeth and flossing. - Swollen and red gums are another visible sign of gingivitis.
- Sometimes the gums become severely painful and tender.
- If the gums are healthy, they have a pale pink color and the tissue is compact. If it is inflamed, its color changes to bright red or violet-red.
- People who suffer from gingivitis have another problem called gum shrinkage.
- All of the above symptoms may be accompanied by halitosis (bad breath) or a foul taste in the mouth, which is due to the growth of bacteria in the oral cavity.
- Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis is a very serious variant of this condition, which can also cause fever, swollen cervical lymph nodes and severe pain.
What is the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis?
Periodontitis is an inflammation of the periodontium: bones, root membrane and root cement.
The cause is a bacterial infection.
In the case of periodontitis, gingivitis is always present, but gingivitis does not necessarily lead to periodontitis.
Gestational gingivitis
Gestational gingivitis is a common gum disease seen in many pregnant women.
Symptoms and treatment of gestational gingivitis
Symptoms that occur include swelling, inflammation and pain of the gums.
Brushing your teeth can cause bleeding gums.
In case of bleeding of the gum tissue, in which the affected area does not improve, one should consult a doctor as soon as possible. The affected gums appear red.
The best way to prevent pregnancy gingivitis is good oral hygiene.
Since this disease is due to bacteria in the mouth, oral hygiene prevents the development of gingivitis.
There is no doubt that the increase in the hormone progesterone can aggravate the disease.
Otherwise, it can develop into a periodontal disease.
Researchers believe there is a link between gum disease and premature birth.
According to some studies, women with chronic gum disease are more likely to give birth prematurely than mothers with healthy gums.
What to do? Treatment of gingivitis
Treatment of gingivitis consists in the combination of dental treatment and self-help.
If the infection does not recede within a few days, the doctor may also prescribe antibiotics.
Dentist visit As mentioned earlier, gingivitis is caused by tartar and plaque in the mouth.
Therefore, you should first have tartar and plaque removed during a visit to the dentist. The dentist cleans the teeth of tartar.
This treatment can be difficult depending on the amount of tartar that has settled on the teeth and gums.
After cleaning, one should use an antiseptic mouthwash such as benzydamine (Tantum Verde).
This cleaning process is understood as tartar removal and is the first treatment step against gingivitis.
Brushing teeth Parents always insist that you brush your teeth twice a day to prevent dental diseases.
This rule should be maintained and brush your teeth at least twice a day.
If you manage to brush your teeth after every meal or snack, you don’t really have to worry anymore.
It is therefore the most important thing in the treatment of gingivitis to brush the teeth regularly to prevent the formation of tartar.Dental floss One should not believe the toothbrush advertisement, which claims that toothbrushes are able to thoroughly clean all interdental spaces.
Brushing alone is not enough. Flossing is the right way to clean these gaps.
The floss is used to remove any food particles that get stuck between the teeth.
Therefore, the next step after brushing your teeth is to floss.
Advice for dental care You can easily prevent gingivitis by taking into account the important advice for dental care
at home.
Regular brushing and flossing twice a day are the best measures to treat gingivitis at home.
You can also use herbal-based toothpaste.
You should not be in a hurry when brushing and flossing.
Allow at least 5-6 minutes to brush your teeth thoroughly.
The use of mouthwash is important.
Home remedies and prevention
One can treat gingivitis naturally by using natural oils, such as:
- Thyme oil
- Tea tree oil
- Peppermint oil
- Lemon oil
- Myrrh oil
- Clove oil
These oils help relieve gum swelling.
The following remedies help in the treatment of gingivitis.
Mouthwash with salt water (better bicarbonate) to relieve the pain of swollen gums.
This remedy also helps relieve gum swelling.
One can dab clove oil on the affected gum areas to relieve the pain.
Also, chewing a clove to dissolve the juice from it is an effective remedy for gingivitis.
Apply a mixture of tea tree oil, lemon oil and peppermint oil to the swollen gums to relieve inflammation.
Put different oils such as myrrh oil, peppermint oil, thyme oil and clove oil in a cup of water and use this mixture as a mouthwash.
Drinking a cup of strong chamomile tea works wonders for inflammation and swelling of the gums.
You can use a mixture of a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and half a glass of lukewarm water as a mouthwash.
Changes in diet
Good oral hygiene alone is not enough to treat gingivitis. A healthy diet is equally important.
Fiber-rich fruits such as apples, carrots and pears stimulate blood circulation in the gums.
In addition, a hefty dose of vitamin C in the daily diet helps to keep the gums healthy.
Sugar should be restricted in the diet, as sugar is the biggest enemy of the gums.
A healthy diet not only supports overall health, but also ensures healthy gums.
Recipes for natural remedies
1) Ingredients
- Water: 1 glass
- Lemon oil: 1 drop
- Peppermint oil: 1 drop
Guide
Mix the ingredients and shake well.
Use this mixture like any other mouthwash.
Put the mixture in your mouth, rinse well and spit out again.
This mouthwash acts like an emulsion and helps stimulate blood circulation in the gums so that it becomes less susceptible to problems.
2) Ingredients
- Clove oil: 2 drops
- Hot water: 1 glass
Guide
Mix the ingredients, gargle briefly with this mixture and then spit them out.
Clove oil is an effective remedy for the pain and swelling that gum swelling could cause.
3) Ingredients
- Hot water: 1 small bottle
- Tea tree oil or peppermint oil: 4 drops
- Sugar: a pinch
Guide
This recipe is for a mixture that you can prepare and store in the fridge for a few days.
Add oil to the water.
Add a pinch of sugar to the mixture.
Shake everything well and use the mixture as an antibacterial mouthwash against gingivitis.
How long does it take to heal? Prognosis
In the case of gingivitis, it takes 1 to 6 months for the symptoms to be completely overcome. The duration depends on the severity.
To reduce recovery time, good oral care and regular visits to the dentist are required.
One should talk to the dentist if one suffers from moderate or severe gingivitis.
Waiting too long can lead to the loss of one or more teeth. Regular visits to the dentist keep dental problems under control.
