Gingivitis

What is gingivitis?

Gingivitis is a form of gum disease caused by a bacterial infection. When your gums are healthy, they fit tightly around your teeth, are firm to the touch, and are pale pink. Symptoms of gingivitis include:

• Bad breath
• Swollen, receding, or tender gums
• Dark red or dusky red gums
• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss

What causes gingivitis?

Poor oral hygiene enables plaque to develop on your teeth. Plaque leads to gingivitis in the following stages:

Plaque forms on the teeth

Plaque forms when the bacteria living in your mouth come in contact with the sugars and starches in the food you eat. This sticky, invisible film forms quickly on your teeth and requires daily removal.

Plaque becomes tartar

When you leave plaque alone, it hardens into tartar and traps bacteria under your gumline. The bacteria subsequently irritates the gumline. It’s difficult to remove plaque when tartar has formed. You will need a professional like Dr. Mannan to remove tartar.

Gingivitis begins

After plaque and tartar have been on your teeth for a long time. Your gums become swollen and bleed easily.

Additional risk factors for developing gingivitis include:

• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Older age
• Poor nutrition
• Dry mouth
• Conditions that decrease immunity
• Certain drugs

Untreated gingivitis can lead to periodontitis and tooth loss.   

How is gingivitis treated?

Scaling and root planing efficiently treat the earliest stages of gingivitis. These nonsurgical procedures remove dental tartar from the tooth.

To reduce your discomfort during this process, Dr. Nabila Mannan uses local anesthetics to reduce discomfort and eliminate any anxiety associated with the procedure.

Dr. Mannan works with you to prevent gingivitis by educating you on the best dental hygiene habits. In addition to regular cleanings at your dental appointments, she provides you with the tools you need to learn proper brushing and flossing techniques.

Call Rainbow Dental, PC or schedule your appointment online today.