Gingivitis is one of the most threatening bodily diseases that we can experience as humans. Gingivitis, or gum disease, is a bacterial infection that causes your gums to become larger. Gingivitis is a serious threat, and failing to treat it can lead to worse gum problems through periodontitis. If you fail to treat Gingivitis, you place yourself at risk for tooth loss and are statistically more likely to develop heart attacks, lung disease, or stroke, and if you’re a woman suffering gingivitis during pregnancy, you are at increased likelihood of giving birth prematurely. Thankfully there are a variety of steps you can take to prevent yourself from developing gingivitis, but in order to effectively safeguard yourself you would be well served by taking the time to understand what causes gingivitis first.
Causes of Gingivitis
- Behaviors that pose other health risks, like smoking cigarettes, put you at increased risk for developing gingivitis because your gums are damaged and less able to repair themselves
- Diseases and illnesses can render your immune system less effective at fighting off infections, making it more likely that you will develop a gum infection (gingivitis).
- Irresponsible oral hygiene habits like failing to brush, floss, and use mouthwash on a daily basis
- Hormonal changes make your gums more sensitive
- Some medication can cause you to produce less saliva, removing a layer of protection from your gums and teeth, while others can cause abnormal gum tissue growth.
- Your family’s history with gum disease can often influence the likelihood that you will develop gingivitis
Are you someone who engages in one of these types of behavior? If so you’re probably at increased risk for gingivitis. Thankfully once you understand how different actions you take affect the likelihood that you will develop gum disease, you can factor measures to mitigate your risk factors into your preventative plan. If you need help figuring out ways to stop the development of your gingivitis, or if you need help treating your gingivitis before it gets worse, come call us at our Cary, NC dentistry to schedule an appointment today.
Symptoms & Treatment for Gingivitis
Although the behaviors outlined above contribute to the likelihood that you have gingivitis, one of the best ways to know for certain is to consider your symptoms. The telltale signs of gingivitis are listed below:
1. Gums that are:
- Swollen
- Soft
- Dusky red
- Puffy
- Receding
2. Bleed easily
3. Persistent bad breath
If you are suffering from these symptoms, and if you engage in one or more of the activities that causes gingivitis, you are definitely at risk for developing gingivitis, or more serious gum diseases like periodontitis. You cannot treat gingivitis through sound oral hygiene practices alone, although brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash multiple times a day can prevent your gingivitis from becoming dramatically worse. At our office in Cary we treat gingivitis by thoroughly cleaning our patients’ teeth with state of the art technology. Call us today to schedule an appointment.