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Lately, Tim has been experiencing bleeding gums especially when he brushes his teeth. Besides that, he noticed his gums are more reddish in colour and puffy. He became worried and wondered if he should continue brushing his teeth to prevent the condition from becoming worse. For this reason, Tim paid a visit to the dentist to check out the cause of his bleeding gums. The dentist found he has gingivitis, a common term for poor gum health.
What is gingivitis?
Gingivitis is a common gum disease where there is inflammation of tissues that surround the teeth. Most of the time, it is caused by a bacterial infection. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress into a more serious infection known as periodontitis. Periodontitis is one of the main causes to tooth loss among the population.
What causes gingivitis?
Image source
The most common cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene. Food debris if not cleaned can get trapped in the space between the gum and teeth, causing plaque formation. Plaque is a thin film of bacteria which hardens over time and becomes tartar. When tartar is present, infection and inflammation can occur around the gum areas leading to gingivitis. Left unchecked, gingivitis can cause gums to shift away causing poor support to the teeth.
What are the risk factors?
Besides poor oral hygiene, there are several other factors which can put one at a higher risk of developing gingivitis, such as:
- Smoking habit
- Diabetes
- Dry mouth
- Certain medications, including steroids, antihypertensives, anti-epileptic drugs
- Crooked teeth or poor fitting dental restorations
Teeth crowding (Image source)
- Pregnancy
- Genetics
- Medical conditions such as viral and fungal infections
What are the symptoms?
Healthy gums are firm, pale pink in colour and fit tightly around the teeth. Gingivitis can go unnoticed as it is possible to have gum problems without any symptoms. However, following are some symptoms of gum disease:
- Red, tender or swollen gums
- Bleeding gums upon brushing or flossing
- Gums that have pulled away from teeth
- Receding gums
- Bad breath
- Pus between teeth and gums
- Sensitive teeth
Image source
How to prevent gingivitis or gum problems?
A good and consistent oral hygiene habit helps to prevent gum problems. This means brushing for two minutes at least twice daily and flossing at least once a day. Also, scheduling regular dental visits for professional cleaning is important to prevent gingivitis. Those who are more at risk such as people with diabetes or smokers are encouraged to have good health practices to maintain both general and oral health.
Conclusion
Gingivitis is a common oral health problem but most people are unaware because it is usually painless. Gingivitis is reversible and easily treatable at its early stage. It is important to realise, visiting a dentist early helps solve the problem before it is too late.
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by Soh May Leng
Born and raised in Malaysia, May Leng obtained her Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Otago, New Zealand. She has joined the GetDoc team to relay valuable health information to the public. Staying active plays a big part in her daily life especially through outdoor sports such as running and swimming. She also enjoys travelling and has a passion for photography. View all articles by Soh May Leng.
