Definition

What is gingivitis?
Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) is a disease caused by a bacterial
infection that causes the gums to become inflamed red and swollen.
The main cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene. People who rarely brush their
teeth, often eat sweet and sour foods, never routinely check their teeth to the
doctor are most at risk of developing gingivitis.
Many people often do not know they have this disease because the symptoms
are not very clear. However, inflammation of the gums should not be allowed to
go on without treatment.
These gum problems can cause periodontitis, which is a serious gum infection
that can damage the bone tissue supporting the teeth. Periodontitis can cause
tooth loss and various other serious problems.
How common is gingivitis?
Gingivitis is a common disease. This condition can be experienced by anyone
regardless of gender. However, people who do not maintain oral health are most
at high risk.
You can avoid the risk of this disease by preventing existing risk factors. Please
consult a dentist for more information.
Signs & Symptoms
What are the signs and symptoms of gingivitis?
Gingivitis generally does not directly cause pain. As a result, many people are
not aware that they are experiencing this condition.
Even so, there are some signs and symptoms of gum inflammation that you can
be aware of early on. Among them:
• Gums are reddish, swollen, and feel soft when touched with the tongue or
hands.
• Gums down or shrink.
• The gums are loose, sliding, or even loose.
• Gums bleed easily when you brush your teeth or use dental floss Sometimes
reddish colors appear on brush bristles or dental floss.
• Changes in gum color from fresh pink to blackish red.
• Bad breath that doesn't go away, or bad taste in the mouth.
• Intense and sharp pain when opening the mouth to chew, bite or even talk.
There may be signs and symptoms not mentioned above.
If you have concerns about certain symptoms, do not hesitate to consult directly
with the dentist.
Only the dentist can recognize and determine how severe your gum disease is.
When to see a doctor?
If you notice that you have one or more of the symptoms of gingivitis above,
see your dentist immediately. Remember, the symptoms of gum inflammation
are often not realized.
So, the sooner you go to a doctor, the greater the chance of recovery.
Not only that. The sooner you see a dentist, you can also avoid the risk of
serious gum damage such as periodontitis.
Usually the dentist recommends a routine examination to cause more serious
problems.
Cause
What causes gingivitis?
The main cause of gingivitis is plaque buildup. Plaque itself is a sticky layer of
bacteria that is formed from deposits of food debris on the surface of the teeth.
Plaque that is left constantly accumulating for a long time will harden to form
tartar under the gum line. Well, tartar is what triggers inflammation of the gums.
Over time, your gums will swell and bleed easily. Dental caries can occur. If not
treated immediately, inflammation of the gums can develop into periodontitis
which causes tooth loss or dislodging.
Risk factor
What increases the risk of gingivitis?
There are many risk factors that can cause you to experience gum inflammation,
including:
Genetic history
The American Academy of Periodontology says that as many as 30 percent of
gum disease cases are caused by genetics.
So, if your grandfather, grandmother, parents, and siblings have gum
inflammation, you are at high risk for experiencing it too.
People with a history of gum inflammation are six times more at risk of
experiencing various forms of gum disease.
Age
The more you age, the greater the risk of experiencing gum inflammation.
Poor oral hygiene
If you rarely brush your teeth, flossing your teeth, and see a dentist, you are at
high risk for gum inflammation.
Dry mouth
Dry mouth can affect the health of the gums, making them more prone to
inflammation and swelling.
Loose or damaged tooth fillings
Broken dental fillings can increase the risk of infection causing gingivitis and
injure other teeth.
Lack of vitamin intake
People who lack vitamin C are more prone to dental and mouth problems,
including inflammation of the gums.
Smoke
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that smokers
are twice as likely to develop gum disease as non-smokers.
Hormonal changes
Hormonal changes experienced by women during pregnancy, monthly
menstruation, and menopause can increase blood circulation to the gums. This
makes the gums more easily inflamed, swollen, and bleeding.
Certain medications
Taking certain medications such as birth control pills, steroids, anticonvulsants
(seizure drugs), chemotherapy, blood thinning drugs, and calcium channel
blockers can increase your risk of getting gum inflammation.
Certain medical conditions
People who have a history of certain medical conditions, such as diabetes,
cancer, and HIV / AIDS, are at high risk of developing gum inflammation
because their immune systems tend to be weak. It will be difficult for their
bodies to fight the bacteria that cause infections.
Medicines & Medications
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS
consult your doctor.
How is gingivitis diagnosed?
Gingivitis can be diagnosed by dental examination. During the examination, the
dentist will examine the gums to see if there is any inflammation while asking
about your overall medical history.
The doctor will also measure the depth of your gum pouch. The depth of the
gum pouch ideally ranges from 1-3 millimeters. If needed, the dentist can also
do an x-ray examination to see whether there is a fractured or broken tooth
bone.
What are the treatments for gingivitis?
Some of the most common treatments for treating gum inflammation include:
Maintain oral hygiene
In mild cases, gingivitis can usually be treated by brushing your teeth more
diligently.
Brush your teeth at least twice a day (morning and night) with the right
technique.
Brush your teeth slowly in a circular motion from top to bottom. Do it the same
way for each section for 20 seconds.
All surfaces of the teeth must be brushed, no one must be missed so that no food
scraps are involved. Finally, rinse your mouth with mouth rinse with clean
water.
Choosing the tool also must be right. Use a soft bristle brush with a small tipped
head to reach the deepest part of the mouth. Also, make sure that the algae
brush you are using is comfortable when held.
While for select toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride is effective for
strengthening and protecting your teeth from damage.
To be really clean, don't forget to do flossing. Flossing is a technique of
cleaning teeth using threads to remove food debris stuck between teeth. Flossing
at least twice a day after brushing your teeth
If you consistently do all this, your gums will look healthy again in a few days
or weeks. Maintain the habit of toothbrush and flosssiing throughout your life to
avoid mouth problems.
Certain medications
• Pain relievers. If the pain is so intense that it makes it difficult for you to chew
and bite food, your doctor may prescribe painkillers such as ibuprofen and
paracetamol. Both of these drugs are effective in relieving the sensation of
numbness around the gums.
• Mouthwash. Antiseptic mouthwash containing chlorhexidine can be used
to help fight the bacteria that cause infections in the mouth. Use mouthwash as
recommended by the doctor. Improper use can actually worsen the condition of
your gums.
• Antibiotic drugs. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent the
infection from getting worse. Antibiotics work by suppressing the growth of
bacteria that cause infections. Take antibiotics must be careful. Mistakenly,
your condition actually gets worse or longer heals.
Tooth cleaning procedure
Your dentist may also recommend a non-surgical procedure to clean your teeth
so they don't irritate your gums more.
Here are some treatments for cleaning teeth that can be done by a dentist:
• Scaling of teeth. This procedure is done using a special tool called an
ultrasonic scaler to clean plaque and tartar in the gum line. Ideally, the scaling
should be done every 6 months. However, in certain cases, a person needs more
frequent tartar cleaning.
• Root planing. Just like scaling, this procedure is also done to clean tartar. The
difference is, this procedure is performed on patients who already have pockets
affected by gum disease (periodontitis). This procedure helps smooth the roots
of your teeth so that your gums can stick tightly back to the teeth.
• Laser. If you want to clean plaque and tartar with minimal pain and bleeding,
laser is the best solution. Please consult a dentist for more information.
Operation
In serious cases, flap surgery can be performed to remove plaque and tartar
from the gum pouch.
Your doctor may also perform bone and tissue graft procedures if the tooth
decay you experience is too severe.
Prevention
How to prevent gingivitis?
The best way to prevent gingivitis is to maintain oral and dental hygiene. This
advice applies not only to adults, but also to children. The earlier you are
accustomed to maintaining oral hygiene, the better.
Here are some easy steps to get used to maintaining oral and dental hygiene
every day.
Diligent toothbrush
The main cause of gingivitis and various other gum problems is plaque that is
formed from food scraps. Therefore, you must regularly brush your teeth every
day. The experts recommend that everyone brush their teeth twice a day, every
morning and night.
Don't forget, you also have to do dental flossing. Flossing is effective for
removing plaque and food scraps that are tucked between the teeth and under
the gum line.
Quit smoking
Smoking is the biggest risk factor for gingivitis and gum disease. Even experts
note that people who smoke seven times the risk of gum disease than non-
smokers.
Therefore, from now on you must try to stop smoking. Apart from preventing
gum inflammation, stopping smoking can also improve your overall body
health.
Eat nutritious food
Proper nutrition can help your immune system more effectively fight the
bacteria that cause gingivitis. Avoid consuming food and drinks that are too
much sugar.
It is better to multiply to eat fruits and vegetables and other foods that contain
vitamins C and E. This is because these two types of vitamins can help your
body repair damaged tissue.
Avoid stress
In fact, stress can also affect the health of your teeth and mouth. When you are
stressed, your immune system will be more difficult to fight the bacteria that
cause infection. You will also be more susceptible to gingivitis and other gum
diseases.
Routine check with the dentist
Another thing that is no less important to prevent gingivitis is a routine check
with the dentist. Periodic examinations can make it easier for your doctor to
monitor your overall oral health.
If the doctor at any time finds a problem with your gums or teeth, he will be
faster to provide appropriate treatment.
Visit the dentist regularly every 6-12 months. However, if there are certain risk
factors that make you more susceptible to gingivitis, you may need to consult
more often.