Gingivitis – Causes, Symptoms, Prevention

April 14, 2019

If you have been following me, You’ve probably heard the word gingivitis. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease and is an inflammation of the gums caused by bacteria. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress and lead to gum disease and tooth loss.

What are the causes?

The most common cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene. If you do not brush, floss, and visit your dentist regularly, you are putting your mouth at risk for developing gingivitis.

If you are stressed, rushed or miss areas when you are brushing, only brushing once a day, or breathe through your mouth you can have gingivitis and not know it.

Plaque is a soft invisible sticky film that builds up on your teeth and accumulates bacteria. If this plaque is not removed, it can harden then turn into tartar along your gum line. Tartar cannot be removed with regular brushing and makes it more difficult to remove plaque. When the plaque and tartar are not properly removed, your gums become inflamed, known as gingivitis.

What are the symptoms?

Gingivitis in it’s beginning stage is a painless condition. But there are some symptoms you should  look for:

  • Red gums
  • Swollen Puffy Gums
  • Gums that bleed easily when you brush or floss
  • Bad breath
  • Tender Gums

How Do You Prevent Gingivitis?

Prevention is the best defense against gingivitis. First, you will need to look at your gums. What do you see?

If you have any of these symptoms, you need to step up your brushing. When people see bleeding in their mouth, they tend not to brush that area or stay away from that spot that is bleeding. It is just the opposite; you should brush more. Be gentle at first, then apply a little more pressure each day until you can brush without bleeding.

If you are diagnosed with gingivitis, know that you can reverse it. Starting with good oral hygiene practices, scheduling regular visits to your dentist, maintaining a healthy mouth affects your overall health, you can make your gums healthy again.

No matter where you are in your dental journey, there is a solution. Take action now before the disease progresses to a stage that is harder to reverse or more expensive to treat.