There's a lot of gingivitis going around. Some estimates show that almost all adults will at one time or another suffer from this gum condition. Other suggest that as many as 80% of the population have at this very minute at least some symptoms of gingivitis. Whatever the true number, it's clear that the problem of gum disease is a chronic problem for many people.
To understand the problem we need to find the cause of the problem. With gingivitis, it's caused by bacteria in your mouth that feeds on plaque. Now a build up of plaque starts out soft and then hardens or calcifies on your teeth. It's that plaque material, along with microscopic food particles and bacteria that accumulate around the gum line causing irritation and gingivitis.
Gingivitis, although considered inflammation of the gum tissue, like many conditions has different levels of severity.
The first stages:
Gum Sensitivity. You may notice your gums may hurt a little when eating certain foods or when brushing.
Later Stages Common symptoms along with the first stage symptoms:
Bleeding gums. This can be a lot or a little but it almost always will include pain when brushing.
Substantial Pain: Your gums will hurt even when you're not eating.
How they look: Your gums will look inflamed and swollen in the areas where gingivitis has taken hold. It may even seem as if tissue torn and may look like an surface wound.
How they feel: Your gums will feel soft to the touch. They will feel mushy like instead of firm.
Receding gums: This last symptom is very serious. If gingivitis is allowed to continue, your gums will start receding away from your teeth. Gums that recede cause tooth loosening and loss.
The good news is that gingivitis is treatable and can be prevented to a large degree. Inflammation of the gums is then caused by plaque that builds up on your teeth. The answer is to remove the cause of the gum disorder and your gums will heal. The best way to eliminate this disease is through good dental hygiene. Brushing your teeth regularly and flossing between each tooth structure can keep the plaque buildup under control.
In the earlier stages of gingivitis, it's possible to reverse the condition with good dental care and mouthwash. The goal is to keep your mouth clean so the gums can heal. Brush your teeth, floss daily, use a mouthwash and if your gums aren't to swollen and sore, carefully brush the gums as well. This massaging stimulates the gum tissue and removes bacteria and any loose skin layers.
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As we go through life, sooner or later we will experience some sort of health problem, whether it be through heredity or other factors. Some diseases will burst forth without warning, others can go on progressively without our knowledge. Gum disease is one that fits in both categories. It starts out silent and before we know it, we have a mouthful of problems. Over 70 per cent of the population has gum disease issues. For the most part, gum disease is usually considered a localized disease. Not to worry, a trip to the dentist will fix everything. This is not always the case.
The common symptoms of gum disease are that a person suffers from red, swollen gums, teeth become loose and the space between the teeth also widens. The person also suffers from chronic bad breath, receding gums and bleeding while brushing or flossing.
Gum disease can be a potential wrecker, not only to your aesthetic worth but also to your lifestyle. Although many might think it's a small thing, imagine having to go through the entire day with a nagging gum defect that can be painful and distracting at the same time.
Gingivitis or gum disease is caused by bacteria in your mouth. You can’t get rid of those germs forever; they’re just a fact of life as a human being. These bacteria feed upon the same things we do, literally the things we eat and drink. They hide in all the little nooks and crannies inside your mouth, even below the gum line. When you brush, you clean out some of those germs, but you can’t reach all of them.
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gum tissue due to a build of plaque or tartar around the gumline and if treated can be reversed. If left untreated gingivitis can lead to periodontitis which is far more serious and is irreversible but can be stopped from progressing any further. If you think you may have gingivitis it is important you go to your dentist.
An abscess is a collection of pus. Pus is a thick fluid that usually contains white blood cells, dead tissue and bacteria (germs). The usual cause of an abscess is an infection with bacteria. A dental abscess is an infection in the centre of a tooth which spreads through the tooth to infect supporting bone and other nearby tissues. Dental abscess is common. It may develop as a complication of tooth decay (caries), or from an infection in the gums.
Brush, brush, brush. Do it at least twice a day with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Although brushing and flossing are equally important, brushing eliminates only the plaque from the surfaces of the teeth that the brush can reach. Flossing, on the other hand, removes plaque from in between the teeth and under the gumline.