Getting Rid of Gingivitis

Your gums are sore and bleed slightly when you brush your teeth. Your gums are constantly inflamed despite brushing twice a day. Your breath stinks and you worry that your gums could get worse. You may be experiencing gingivitis.

Gingivitis is a mild case of gum disease (periodontal disease) that causes redness, swelling and irritation of your gingiva, the part of your gum around the base of the teeth. Untreated gingivitis can lead to more serious gum disease called periodontitis and tooth loss.

Almost half, 47.2 percent of all adults age 30 and older have some form of gum disease. Gum disease increases with age, 70.1 percent of adults 65 years and older have periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is more common in men than women. Smoking puts you at further risk for gum disease with 64.2 percent of adult smokers who have gum disease.

Gingivitis is caused by an accumulation of plaque, a white sticky substance that forms from bacteria in the mouth and attaches to the teeth. The bacteria is not caused by food. Plaque forms in the sulcus, the space between the gum and tooth and in the papilla, the portions of gum between the teeth.

Gingivitis is characterized by red, puffy gums that bleed easily when brushed or flossed. Stress, hormonal changes, pregnancy, menopause, diet, exercise and certain medications can make a person’s gums more susceptible to becoming inflamed.

The way to prevent gingivitis is through proper brushing and flossing. There is even a technique that dentists are recommending known as the modified Bass. Your toothbrush is held at a 45 degree angle, pointed at the gum line so bristles of the brush are getting between the gum and the tooth. Then people should brush teeth three teeth at a time, back and forth to the count of five. Then, do the rest of the tooth. People should take at least five minutes to do their mouth properly.

Brushing teeth alone is not sufficient. Flossing is necessary to properly clean your teeth. The idea of flossing is to reach where the brush cannot, between teeth and at the base of the tooth where it meets the gum line.

One noteworthy suggestion regarding flossing is to use unwaxed dental floss. Wrapping the floss around the middle finger of each hand at about the level of the first joint to form an arc. Then use the thumb and forefinger as guides for the floss.

Gently work the floss between the teeth, moving it back and forth. Remember to floss the available surface area of each tooth, using an up-and-down and wrap-around motion. Preventative flossing should take place at least every 24 hours because bacterial colonies form on teeth every 24 to 36 hours.

In children gingivitis can start as early as three or four years old. Pediatric dentists are seeing children at 2 ½ to 3 years old to teach them how to take care of their teeth and gums. Dentists recommend seeing children at this age because they might have cavities already. Parents are expected to floss their children’s teeth at such a young age.

Gingivitis is also common in people who wear braces. The braces trap plaque and more than 75 percent of people who wear braces have mild to moderate gingivitis.

Some studies have found that those with severe gum disease are at risk for developing serious conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory illness. What happens is that periodontal bacteria enters the bloodstream and travels to major organs.  

Combining proper daily care with professional cleanings will control the incidence of gingivitis. And gingivitis can be reversed with brushing and flossing too.

After a professional cleaning, if infected gums remain a problem, then try “anti-plaque” or “anti-gingivitis” products like toothpaste. Colgate Total approved by the Food and Drug Administration as the first toothpaste shown to reduce gum disease. Total, with an active ingredient, triclosan, was found to perform significantly better than standard fluoride toothpaste in helping to prevent plaque and gingivitis in adults.

To diagnose gingivitis, your dentist may conduct a review of your dental and medical history to see what conditions may be contributing to your symptoms. Then, your dentist may examine your teeth, gums, mouth, and tongue for signs of plaque and inflammation. Measurement of your pocket depth of the groove between your gums and teeth by inserting a dental probe beside your tooth beneath your gum line at several sites in the mouth will need to be done. Dental X-rays can show possible bone loss. Your dentist may want to conduct other tests as needed.

Professional gingivitis care includes professional dental cleaning in a procedure known as scaling and root planing where plaque, tartar and bacteria are removed from the teeth. Scaling removes tartar and bacteria from your tooth surfaces and beneath your gums. Root planing removes the bacterial products produced by inflammation, smooths the root surfaces, stopping further buildup of tartar and bacteria and allows healing. Dental restoration can be done if needed where misaligned teeth or poorly fitting crowns, and bridges can be fixed.

Then there’s ongoing care after the professional cleaning where your dentist can help you plan an effective at-home regimen and follow-up cleaning and checkup appointments.

Some helpful tips are to brush teeth twice a day or if you can after meals, floss at least once a day, use a mouth rinse to reduce plaque between the teeth, use an electric toothbrush if you can, and get professional dental cleanings on a schedule recommended by your dentist.

It’s important to remember that the simple answer to gingivitis might be nothing more than a toothbrush and dental floss. See your dentist immediately if you suspect you have gingivitis.