Hello, It’s Doc Ronald
The gum diseases we will cover are basically gingivitis and periodontitis
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the painful inflammation of the gums or gingiva
The causes are;
- The most common cause is plaque build up around teeth due to poor oral hygiene and inadequate brushing tech nique.
- Hormonal changes like in pregnancy
- Medications like Dilantin for epilepsy
- Smoking and chronic alcohol intake
These are the symptoms that you have gingivitis
- Tender gums painful to touch or
- Bleeding of gums when brushing flossing
- Halitosis, bad breath
- Receding gums
- Swollen reddish gums
How to prevent gum diseases
- Regular brushing using appropriate techniques
- Use toothbrush with soft bristles
- Replace tooth brush every three months
- Refrain from smoking and chewing tobacco
- Flossing teeth at least once a day Regular use of antiseptic mouth wash
- Routine dental visits to curb any early occurrences
What to do if your gums bleed or are swollen
- In early cases or even in normal cir cumstances, use gum Healthy tooth- pastes like gum tone, parodontax
- Rinse mouth with warm water salt rinse regularly
- Natural remedies such as; turmeric, green tea can improve gingivitis
- Eat vitamin c rich foods and fruits like oranges, papaya, pineapple, lemon.
- Use at home mouth washes like aloe Vera juice, sage juice, guava leave etc.
- Eat gum friendly foods and fruits that are soft.
Periodontitis.
This gum disease is normally a chronic stage of gingivitis where gums pull away from teeth, bone can be lost and the teeth become loose and even fall off
Stages of periodontal diseases
These are the symptoms that you have periodontitis
- Pocket or spaces developing between your teeth
- Painful and teeth when chew- ing
- Foul smell from mouth
- Loose teeth or loss of teeth
- Gums that are pulled down from the teeth making your teeth look longer than normal
- A change in the way your teeth fit together as you bite
- Visible dark-brown calculus surrounding your teeth.
Management of periodontitis.
- Its normally easy to prevent such gum dis- eases with good oral hygiene and regular dental visits and also at home by practicing healthy habits and diet.
- Scaling by the dentist to remove bacteria and tartar
- Root planning to smooth the surface of the roots to prevent further Tatar buildup
- Use of antibiotic medications to reduce bacterial activity Use of over the counter pain killers.
FAQ
Is gingivitis a communicable disease?
- No
Is gum disease reversible?
- Gingivitis is the only stage of gum dis case which is reversible but untreated gum disease can cause damage which is irreversible.
What are the dangers of gum disease?
- Periodontitis can cause tooth loss, seri- ous infections and affect general health
Why do some people suffer from this disease and not others?
- This is because some people don’t know what a dentist looks like and the commonest cause of gum diseases are poor oral hygiene and lifestyle, underly- ing health conditions like diabetes, Hiv among others.
Do you have your own question too? Please contact us.
Thank you
References