GINGIVITIS

What is Gingivitis?

It literally means disease of the gum or ‘gingivae’. It is one of the two gum diseases in existence and is mostly considered to be mild and easily reversible for the most part. Of-course, the lack of flossing habits and/or poor oral hygiene is directly responsible for this condition.

It concerns 90% of the population!

Plaque is the result of accumulated dead bacteria and bacterial wastes. As it builds up on the surface of your teeth, it provides shelter for the same bacteria to multiply themselves undisturbed and produce even more wastes. At this point, we’re talking about ten’s of billions of bacteria present on your teeth and inside your gum line.

The wastes they produce are acidic and will start eating ever deeper at your gums until it reaches the bone structure that holds your teeth in place. At this point, you’ve allowed your condition to deteriorate to such extent that it has developed into periodontal disease.

You should NEVER let that happen! Gingivitis is reversible, periodontitis is not.

How do I know I’ve got it?

Take a look at your gums in your bathroom mirror and check your gum line. Usually, the first signs of gum disease are red looking inflamed gums that tend to bleed occasionally when you brush. Tartar build up is observable and if you smoke, it worsens. For the more sever cases, you begin to see infections and the gums become very sensitive to touch.

Ok, I’ve checked and it’s not too bad…What should I do?

Start flossing. It’s as simple as that. Flossing will remove yet unhardened plaque and food trapped between your teeth. If you’re not accustomed to flossing, expect to bleed abundantly. Because your gums have become fragile, take your time to floss without causing tissue damage.

Some people also have a tendency to press too hard on their toothbrush while brushing expecting a better cleaning. This is a mistake, not only does it serve no purpose whatsoever, but will further damage your gums in the process.

For a more sophisticated approach to gingivitis, try the oral irrigator. The thin stream of water released by this device will penetrate deep inside pockets in the gum line and flush out any debris and bacteria.

The sonic toothbrush is also a great tool to use. With its fluid dynamic technology, it will clean 1/8th of an inch beyond the tip of its bristles. A good sonic toothbrush will release some 40 000 vibrations per minute, that’s over 660 vibrations per second!! A genuine Gatling gun for killing bacteria.