Gingivitis. You’ve probably heard the word on a television commercial for toothpaste and mouth rinse or perhaps you’ve read about it in a magazine or online. But how much do you really know about gingivitis? Would you be able to recognize the signs of this disease in your own mouth? At Distinctive Dentistry, your Dentist in Dallas, GA, wants you to have a basic understanding of this treatable condition, so gum disease never becomes a threat to your oral or general health.
What is Gingivitis?
Periodontal disease, also simply known as gum disease, is divided into three stages: gingivitis, periodontitis and advanced periodontitis. Although not curable, the initial stage of gingivitis may be reversible with stringent brushing and flossing and a professional dental cleaning in our Dallas, GA, dental office.
What are the Signs of Gingivitis?
In order to recognize the signs of gingivitis, you must first know what healthy gum tissue looks like. When your gums are healthy, they are pale or light pink in color; they are firm and flat; and they don’t hurt or bleed when you brush or floss your teeth.
Conversely, gums with gingivitis have some opposite and additional signs. These include:
- Red gum tissue
- Swollen gums that are soft rather than firm
- Gums that bleed against the pressure of a toothbrush or floss
- Bad breath
- Gum recession
- Pus in between teeth and gums
How Does Gingivitis Start?
More often than not, gingivitis starts when proper oral hygiene ends. When you brush and floss your teeth regularly, you help to control the buildup of plaque on your teeth and along the gum line. Millions of bacteria hide in plaque. Every time you eat, these bacteria feed on food particles in your mouth and excrete toxins that lead to the beginning of gum disease. As this bacterial infection sets in, your body’s immune system responds with inflammation just as it does in other parts of the body. This inflammation is marked by the redness and swelling that are the hallmarks of gingivitis.
Left untreated, gingivitis can advance to become periodontitis, which involves the break down of gum and connective tissue as well as the deterioration of bone structure underneath that supports your teeth. In addition, periodontal disease has been linked with several bodily diseases and illnesses including cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, pneumonia, osteoporosis, dementia and pregnancy complications such pre-term birth.
Call Your Dentist in Dallas, GA, Today
Six-month dental checkups help to prevent gingivitis. If you or anyone else in your family is due for an appointment, then contact Distinctive Dentistry today.
