Gum Inflammation and Gum Infection Can Lead to Gum Disease
Red and bleeding gums can be an early sign of gum disease. This is a warning sign your body gives you to let you know something is wrong or out of balance. If you ignore these signs, the condition could worsen leading to gum infection and gum disease.
What is Gingivitis
Gingivitis is an early sign of gum disease. The first part of the word Gingiv-, means gums. The last part of the word –itis, stands for inflammation. Therefore, the term gingivitis means inflammation of the gums.
Gum Disease Symptoms
Red and bleeding gums are only a couple symptoms related to gum disease. Other symptoms include: swelling, bad breath or halitosis, receding gums, pain or discomfort, and ulcerations. These gum disease symptoms can be easily avoided by following some simple rules.
How to Treat Gum Disease
First make sure you are brushing your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day. Make sure your toothbrush reaches every surface of every tooth. Flossing is also critically important because the bristles of the toothbrush cannot reach in between the teeth. Flossing at least once a day will keep food from building up between your teeth and reduce the risk of gum disease. Finally, be sure to visit your dental hygienist at least twice a year. Regular maintenance of your dental cleanings is important to remove the tartar build up that you cannot remove with brushing and flossing alone.
Gingivitis Can Lead to Periodontitis
If your gingivitis is ignored or left untreated, the inflammation will get worse. The bacteria that cause the inflammation will hide themselves underneath your gums making them difficult to remove. The acids from the bacteria will cause further inflammation and bleeding and eventually lead to bone loss around teeth and future tooth loss. Early signs of bone loss around teeth are the first symptoms of periodontitis.
Schedule a Regular Hygiene Maintenance Appointment
If is imperative that your dental hygienist help keep your gums healthy and monitor any changes in your gum health. The dental hygienist works closely with the doctor to develop a treatment plan to treat your unique condition. Not all dental cleanings are the same. Each dental cleaning should be customized to your specific needs at any given time.
Call us here at Biscayne Dental & Facial Aesthetics in Miami to schedule a new patient appointment. We look forward to helping you get your gums back to health. Call us at our Edgewater Miami location at (305) 224-1138.