Gingivitis is a common gum disease that usually occurs due to the accumulation of bacteria in the mouth and plaque on the teeth, causing painful inflammation of the gums. The symptoms can worsen if left untreated.
What Is Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is a mild and common form of gum disease that affects most adults at some point in their lives. Gingivitis usually causes mild symptoms such as swelling, redness, and easy bleeding. The condition can develop into something more serious if a person does not treat its root cause, as the person may develop a more serious gum disease known as periodontitis.
Causes and Risk Factors of Gingivitis
The gums do not fully attach to the teeth as we might think, and this forms a small space called the sulcus. Food and plaque can get trapped in this space and cause gingivitis.
Plaque is a thin layer of bacteria that continuously forms on the surface of the teeth, and as the plaque increases and progresses, it hardens and becomes tartar. When plaque extends below the gum line, it causes a gum infection.
If gingivitis is left untreated, it can cause the gums to separate from the teeth, which may lead to:
- Damage to the soft tissue and the bone supporting the teeth.
- The teeth becoming loose and unstable.
- Tooth loss, if the infection worsens.
There are also some factors that contribute to gingivitis, such as:
- Certain medications: Some medications can cause gingivitis or make it worse because they can lead to overgrowth of gum tissue and make plaque removal difficult. Examples of these medications are:
- Phenytoin.
- Cyclosporine.
- Calcium channel blockers.
- Oral or injectable contraceptives.
- Vitamin C deficiency.
- Hormonal changes, especially those that occur during pregnancy or menopause.
- Exposure to heavy metals such as nickel, which can be found in some jewelry.
- Exposure to the element bismuth, which is used in the manufacture of some cosmetics.
- Certain diseases such as leukemia and diabetes.
- Certain viral or fungal infections, such as thrush and HIV.
- Impacted teeth, or those that do not fully emerge.
- Smoking: Regular smokers usually develop gingivitis more than non-smokers.
- Age: The rate of developing gingivitis increases with advancing age.
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Symptoms of Gingivitis
In mild cases of gingivitis, there may not be any noticeable discomfort or symptoms; however, the signs and symptoms of gingivitis can be as follows:
- Redness and swelling of the gums.
- Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing the teeth.
- Gum recession.
- Loose teeth.
- Malocclusion, which is a change in how the teeth fit together when biting.
- Pus between the teeth and gums.
- Pain when chewing.
- Tooth sensitivity.
- Bad breath that does not go away after brushing the teeth.
Diagnosing Gingivitis
If you suffer from symptoms of gingivitis, you should visit a dentist for a medical examination and to prescribe treatment.
During the dental examination, the gums will be examined with a small ruler that measures any pockets around the teeth (the typical depth is 1 to 3 millimeters).
If the doctor suspects a gum disease, an X-ray can show whether this infection has affected the bone underneath.
Treatment of Gingivitis
The available options for treating gingivitis include the following:
- Deep cleaning of the teeth.
- Antibiotic medications.
- Surgery.
Teeth Cleaning
There are several techniques that can be used to deep clean the teeth without surgery by removing plaque and tartar to prevent gum irritation, and among these procedures are:
- Deep cleaning or scaling of the teeth: It is the removal of tartar from above and below the gum line.
- Root planing: It is a procedure in which rough spots are smoothed and plaque and tartar are removed from the root surface.
- Laser: This treatment removes tartar (plaque) but with less pain and bleeding than scaling and root planing.
Medications
A number of medications can be used to treat gum inflammation diseases, such as:
- Antiseptic mouthwash containing chlorhexidine.
- Antiseptic chips containing chlorhexidine that are inserted into the pockets after root planing.
- Antibiotic microspheres made of minocycline that are inserted into the pockets after scaling and root planing.
- Oral antibiotics to treat chronic gingivitis.
- The medication doxycycline, an antibiotic used to prevent enzymes from causing tooth damage.
Surgery
If the gingivitis is severe, especially if it has caused loss of gum or bone tissue, you may need surgery.
The types of gum surgeries include the following:
- Flap surgery: It is a procedure in which the gum is lifted back and plaque and tartar are removed from the deep pockets, then the gum is sutured firmly in place around the tooth.
- Bone and tissue grafting: Grafting can be used when the teeth and jaw are too damaged to heal.
- Gum tissue grafting surgery: Tissue from the roof of the mouth is used to cover the exposed tooth root, which helps prevent further gum loss and exposure of the tooth bone.
- Bone grafting surgery: In it, the doctor will begin with a procedure similar to flap surgery, but will place a bone graft to encourage your body to regenerate any lost jawbone.
- Crown lengthening: With recurrent gingivitis, some people may suffer from excess gum tissue, and in this case this tissue is moved aside to expose a larger part of the teeth. This may also be necessary before some cosmetic and restorative procedures on the teeth.
Prevention of Gingivitis
It is possible to prevent gingivitis by regularly practicing some healthy habits and good oral hygiene. This includes:
- Brushing the teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Flossing the teeth at least once a day.
- Rinsing the mouth regularly with antiseptic mouthwash.
- Visiting the dentist regularly.
- Eating a balanced diet to maintain dental health.
- Controlling diabetes if you have it.
- Quitting smoking and other tobacco products.
Although gingivitis is common and most cases can be treated through regular good oral hygiene practices, neglecting to treat it in a timely manner leads to the worsening of the condition and the occurrence of complications.
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