Gingivitis

People with gingivitis have inflamed gum tissue around their teeth. This condition is caused by bacteria found in dental plaque.

Normal, healthy gums should be firmly attached to the teeth and underlying bone. Normal gums are pale pink in light-skinned people. They are brown, gray or mottled in people with darker complexions. If you have gingivitis, your gums are inflamed, red and swollen. They will bleed easily and may be tender.

Mild gingivitis causes little or no pain. You might not notice it. If left unchecked, however, it can become severe. In some people, gingivitis develops into periodontitis, which can lead to tooth loss.

Plaque is a sticky film that collects on your teeth, especially in crevices and spaces or around rough or broken fillings. The bacteria in plaque produce substances that can harm the gums. If plaque is not removed, it hardens. In this form it's called calculus, or tartar. Calculus irritates the gums. It also provides more surfaces that bacteria can bind to and grow. Gingivitis results from the gums' response to the growth of bacteria.

Gum disease in general and gingivitis in particular are common. Almost 3 out of 4 adults over the age of 35 have some form of gum disease. Certain groups have an especially high risk:

•             People with poorly controlled diabetes

•             Pregnant women

•             Women taking birth control pills

•             People taking steroid medicines

Certain prescription drugs can cause gums to grow too much and become inflamed. These include:

•             Anti-seizure medicines, such as Dilantin

•             Drugs that suppress the immune system, such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)

•             Some blood-pressure medicines (calcium channel blockers)

Symptoms

You will notice red, swollen, gums that bleed easily.

Diagnosis

Your dentist will examine and probe your gums. He or she will look for calculus deposits on your teeth and under the gum line. The dentist will ask you if your gums bleed when you brush or floss your teeth.

Make sure your dentist knows the medicines you are taking. It's possible that one or more of them may be contributing to your gingivitis.

Expected Duration

Gingivitis can disappear within about a week once you start a program of good oral hygiene. If oral hygiene remains poor, gingivitis likely will remain. It could get worse and turn into periodontitis. This condition can lead to significant loss of tissue and bone around teeth.

Prevention

Brush your teeth regularly. The best times are in the morning and before bed. Floss your teeth at least once a day. Make sure that you use a soft toothbrush. The bristles should reach the gum line when you brush.

Have your teeth professionally cleaned every six months to one year. This can help to prevent plaque from becoming calculus. The cleaning also will remove calculus that has already formed.

Treatment

Gingivitis can be reversed if you remove the bacteria that bind to your teeth every day. At your dental office, you will receive a thorough cleaning. Part of the cleaning is calledscaling. This removes plaque at and just below the gum line. Your dentist or dentalhygienist can explain the most effective methods of brushing and flossing. Gingivitis is easier to treat if you keep medical conditions, such as diabetes, under control.

If gingivitis turns into periodontitis, you will need additional treatment.

When to Call a Professional

If your gums become tender or bleed easily when you brush your teeth, contact your dentist.

Prognosis

The outlook is excellent, once you start a program of good dental hygiene. Symptoms can disappear in as little as one week.

What are the Stages of Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums that can progress to affect the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth. It is caused by the bacteria in plaque, a sticky, colourless film that constantly forms on your teeth. If not removed through daily brushing and flossing, plaque can build up and the bacteria infect not only your gums and teeth, but eventually the gum tissue and bone that support the teeth. This can cause them to become loose, fall out or have to be removed by a dentist.

There are three stages of gum disease:

•             Gingivitis: this is the earliest stage of gum disease, an inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup at the gumline. If daily brushing and flossing do not remove the plaque, it produces toxins (poisons) that can irritate the gum tissue, causing gingivitis. You may notice some bleeding during brushing and flossing. At this early stage in gum disease, damage can be reversed, since the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place are not yet affected.

•             Periodontitis: at this stage, the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are irreversibly damaged. Your gums may begin to form a pocket below the gumline, which traps food and plaque. Proper dental treatment and improved home care can usually help prevent further damage.

•             Advanced Periodontitis: in this final stage of gum disease, the fibers and bone supporting your teeth are destroyed, which can cause your teeth to shift or loosen. This can affect your bite and, if aggressive treatment can't save them, teeth may need to be removed.

How do I Know if I Have Gum Disease?

Gum disease can occur at any age, but it is most common among adults. If detected in its early stages, gum disease can be reversed so see your dentist if you notice any of the following symptoms:

•             Gums that are red, puffy or swollen, or tender

•             Gums that bleed during brushing or flossing

•             Teeth that look longer because your gums have receded

•             Gums that have separated, or pulled away, from your teeth, creating a pocket

•             Changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

•             Pus coming from between your teeth and gums

•             Constant bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth

How is Gum Disease Treated?

•             The early stages of gum disease can often be reversed with proper brushing and flossing. Good oral health will help keep plaque from building up.

•             A professional cleaning by your dentist or hygienist is the only way to remove plaque that has built up and hardened into tartar. Your dentist or hygienist will clean or "scale" your teeth to remove the tartar above and below the gumline. If your condition is more severe, a root planing procedure may be performed. Root planing helps to smooth irregularities on the roots of the teeth making it more difficult for plaque to deposit there.

By scheduling regular checkups, early stage gum disease can be treated before it leads to a much more serious condition. If your condition is more advanced, treatment in the dental office will be required.

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