What is Gingivitis and How Is It Treated?
Keeping your teeth and mouth clean not only has cosmetic benefits, but also helps to keep your mouth healthy and free of illness. Keeping plaque and bacteria away helps your teeth stay strong and keeps surrounding tissues clean and functioning properly. This applies to your gums as well, because bacteria and plaque can get in between the teeth and gums, causing inflammation and bleeding, as well as decay of the gums and teeth. There are different types of periodontal diseases that can affect your oral health. Periodontal disease is the inflammation and infection that affects the tissue that supports your teeth, which includes the gums and bone.
Gingivitis is caused by plaque deposits left on and around your teeth over a long period of time. When teeth are not cleaned properly, a sticky substance forms on the surface of the teeth; this is known as plaque. If the plaque is not cleaned, it mineralizes and turns into a hard deposit called tartar that gets trapped at the base of the teeth. Plaque and tartar irritate and inflame the gums, and the bacteria and toxins they produce cause the gums to become infected, swollen, and tender.
There are also other ways that a person can become more prone to gingivitis. These include brushing or flossing too harshly, having misaligned teeth, and the rough edges of fillings that can irritating the gums. Also, wearing braces, dentures, bridges, and crowns that are not clean and don't fit properly will irritate the gums and form infection which can lead to gingivitis.
You should be concerned and see your Laser Dental Associates dentist if you experience any of the following symptoms of gingivitis: bleeding gums, bright red gums, tender and swollen gums, mouth sores, and a shiny appearance to the gums.
Gingivitis is caused by plaque deposits left on and around your teeth over a long period of time. When teeth are not cleaned properly, a sticky substance forms on the surface of the teeth; this is known as plaque. If the plaque is not cleaned, it mineralizes and turns into a hard deposit called tartar that gets trapped at the base of the teeth. Plaque and tartar irritate and inflame the gums, and the bacteria and toxins they produce cause the gums to become infected, swollen, and tender.
There are also other ways that a person can become more prone to gingivitis. These include brushing or flossing too harshly, having misaligned teeth, and the rough edges of fillings that can irritating the gums. Also, wearing braces, dentures, bridges, and crowns that are not clean and don't fit properly will irritate the gums and form infection which can lead to gingivitis.
You should be concerned and see your Laser Dental Associates dentist if you experience any of the following symptoms of gingivitis: bleeding gums, bright red gums, tender and swollen gums, mouth sores, and a shiny appearance to the gums.