What causes gingivitis and how to stop it?
“Leaving plaque and food debris on [tooth] surfaces causes inflammation of the gums, and the inflammation is what causes the bleeding,” Dr. Rawdin says. Luckily, gingivitis is reversible. Another reason for bleeding gums? You’ve just started a new daily flossing routine, and you’re being a little too rough with your mouth, explains Dr. Rawdin.
How to reverse gingivitis, and how to reverse it fast?
Reversing Gingivitis: 7 Tips to Make it Happen
- Get Regular Professional Cleanings. Seeing a hygienist or dentist for regular professional cleanings is one of the best ways to get rid of gingivitis for good.
- Brush and Floss Often. In addition to regular professional cleanings, simply brushing and flossing well at home is another way to reverse gingivitis.
- Use Antibacterial Mouthwash. ...
How to treat gum disease at home?
Top 25 Effective Home Remedies For Periodontal Disease
- Ginger. This is the first home remedy for periodontal disease for you to do at home. ...
- Blueberry. Among home remedies for periodontal disease, blueberry is one of the most effective. ...
- Apple Cider Vinegar. This is another must-try home treatment in this list of home remedies for periodontal disease. ...
- Salts. ...
- Baking Soda. ...
- Quicklime. ...
- Clove Oil. ...
What is the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis?
You may have gingivitis if you’re experiencing any of these uncomfortable symptoms:
- Bright red gums
- Tender, painful gums
- Bleeding from the gums, especially when brushing and flossing
- Chronic bad breath
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Tooth decay and cavities
What type of bacteria causes gingivitis?
Two types of bacteria are commonly associated with gum disease – Treponema denticola and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Both of which can survive without oxygen and multiply to cause inflammation of the gums.
Is gingivitis a bacterial infection?
Gingivitis is a mild, early form of gum disease that occurs when bacteria and plaque build up in the mouth and lead to infection. While gingivitis doesn't always cause symptoms, it can make the gums red, swollen and tender.
What is the most common cause of gingivitis?
The most common cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene that encourages plaque to form on teeth, causing inflammation of the surrounding gum tissues. Here's how plaque can lead to gingivitis: Plaque forms on your teeth.
What are two types of bacteria that can harm your gums?
The two most common harmful bacteria related to gum disease, also referred to as periodontal disease, include Treponema denticola and Porphyromonas gingivalis. These types of bacteria can survive without oxygen and can multiply rapidly. They cause inflammation in your gums and disrupt the good bacteria in your mouth.
What antibiotics treat gingivitis?
The most common antibiotics used for gum infections are tetracyclines (like minocycline or doxycycline), amoxicillin, clindamycin, metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin.
Is antibiotics needed for gingivitis?
Most forms of gum disease can be treated without antibiotics, but the biggest advantage of using topical antibiotics to help treat the disease is that they are directed to their specific target areas, thus the entire body is not affected.
How long before gingivitis turns into periodontitis?
Slight Periodontal Disease During the early gingivitis stages, gum inflammation can occur in as little as five days. Within two to three weeks, the signs of generalized gingivitis become more noticeable. If you still leave this untreated, it would progress to slight periodontal disease.
What are the stages of gingivitis?
This article outlines the causes, symptoms, prevention and management methods and outlook for each one.Gingivitis. ... Periodontitis - Stage 1: Initial. ... Periodontitis - Stage 2: Moderate. ... Periodontitis - Stage 3: Severe (with potential for tooth loss) ... Periodontitis - Stage 4: Severe (with potential for the loss of all teeth)
How do dentist treat gingivitis?
Professional gingivitis care includes: Professional dental cleaning. Your initial professional cleaning will include removing all traces of plaque, tartar and bacterial products — a procedure known as scaling and root planing. Scaling removes tartar and bacteria from your tooth surfaces and beneath your gums.
What is the most common bacteria found in the mouth?
Streptococcus mutans is the bacteria you've probably heard the most about. It lives in your mouth, specifically on tooth surfaces and difficult-to-clean areas like pits and fissures on the teeth, and feeds on the sugars and starches you eat, leading to the formation of cavities.
How do you know if you have a bacterial infection in your mouth?
For bacterial mouth infections, including periodontitis, look out for symptoms including:Bad breath.Bitter taste.Persistent pain.Sensitive or loose teeth.Swollen and inflamed gums, neck glands or jaw.Receding gums or new spaces between your teeth.Headache.Fever.
How do you get rid of periodontal bacteria?
Topical or oral antibiotics can help control bacterial infection. Topical antibiotics can include antibiotic mouth rinses or insertion of gels containing antibiotics in the space between your teeth and gums or into pockets after deep cleaning.
What are the bacterial species associated with gingivitis?
D-7, and Fusobacterium naviforme. Bacteria involved in the etiology of gingivitis include specific species of Streptococcus, Fusobacterium , Actinomyces, Veillonella, and Treponema and possibly Bacteroides, Capnocytophaga, and Eikenella.
What is gingivitis caused by?
Gingivitis. Gingivitis is caused by substances derived from microbial plaque accumulating at or near the gingival sulcus; all other suspected local and systemic etiologic factors either enhance plaque accumulation or retention, or enhance the susceptibility of the gingival tissue to microbial attack. Microbial ….
What causes gingivitis in the gingival sulcus?
Gingivitis is caused by substances derived from microbial plaque accumulating at or near the gingival sulcus; all other suspected local and systemic etiologic factors either enhance plaque accumulation or retention, or enhance the susceptibility of the gingival tissue to microbial attack.
Is gingivitis a progressive disease?
Clinical manifestations of gingivitis are episodic phenomena characterized by discontinuous bursts of acute inflammation. Most lesions are transient or persistent but not progressive. Attachment loss may precede alveolar bone loss and may occur without the manifestations of a concurrent or a precursor gingivitis.
Does gingivitis occur in children?
Gingivitis and the periodontal microflora differ in children and adults. Clinical signs of gingivitis either do not appear as plaque accumulates, or they are greatly delayed in children, and the inflammatory infiltrate consists mostly of T lymphocytes. The conversion to a B cell lesion does not appear to occur.
What is the most common form of gingivitis?
Gingivitis is a non-destructive disease that causes inflammation of the gums. The most common form of gingivitis, and the most common form of periodontal disease overall, is in response to bacterial biofilms (also called plaque) that is attached to tooth surfaces, termed plaque-induced gingivitis. Most forms of gingivitis are plaque-induced.
How to prevent gingivitis?
Gingivitis can be prevented through regular oral hygiene that includes daily brushing and flossing. Hydrogen peroxide, saline, alcohol or chlorhexidine mouth washes may also be employed. In a 2004 clinical study, the beneficial effect of hydrogen peroxide on gingivitis has been highlighted.
What causes plaque in the gums?
The plaque accumulates in the small gaps between teeth, in the gingival grooves and in areas known as plaque traps: locations that serve to accumulate and maintain plaque. Examples of plaque traps include bulky and overhanging restorative margins, clasps of removable partial dentures and calculus (tartar) that forms on teeth. Although these accumulations may be tiny, the bacteria in them produce chemicals, such as degradative enzymes, and toxins, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS, otherwise known as endotoxin) or lipoteichoic acid (LTA), that promote an inflammatory response in the gum tissue. This inflammation can cause an enlargement of the gingiva and subsequent formation. Early plaque in health consists of a relatively simple bacterial community dominated by Gram-positive cocci and rods. As plaque matures and gingivitis develops, the communities become increasingly complex with higher proportions of Gram-negative rods, fusiforms, filaments, spirilla and spirochetes. Later experimental gingivitis studies, using culture, provided more information regarding the specific bacterial species present in plaque. Taxa associated with gingivitis included Fusobacterium nucleatum subspecies polymorphum, Lachnospiraceae [G-2] species HOT100, Lautropia species HOTA94, and Prevotella oulorum (a species of Prevotella bacterium), whilst Rothia dentocariosa was associated with periodontal health. Further study of these taxa is warranted and may lead to new therapeutic approaches to prevent periodontal disease.
How many units are there in gingivitis?
Each tooth is divided into four gingival units (mesial, distal, buccal, and lingual) and given a score from 0–3 based on the gingival index. The four scores are then averaged to give each tooth a single score. The diagnosis of the periodontal disease gingivitis is done by a dentist.
How to treat gingivitis with oral irrigator?
The bacteria that causes gingivitis can be controlled by using an oral irrigator daily with a mouthwash containing an antibiotic. Either amoxicillin, cephalexin, or minocycline in 500 grams of a non-alcoholic fluoride mouthwash is an effective mixture.
What does a dental hygienist do?
A dental hygienist or dentist will check for the symptoms of gingivitis, and may also examine the amount of plaque in the oral cavity. A dental hygienist or dentist will also look for signs of periodontitis using X-rays or periodontal probing as well as other methods.
How do you know if you have gingivitis?
The symptoms of gingivitis are somewhat non-specific and manifest in the gum tissue as the classic signs of inflammation : Swollen gums. Bright red or purple gums. Gums that are tender or painful to the touch. Bleeding gums or bleeding after brushing and/or flossing. Bad breath ( halitosis)
What causes gingivitis in the mouth?
Causes. The most common cause of gingivitis is the accumulation of bacterial plaque between and around the teeth. The plaque triggers an immune response, which, in turn, can eventually lead to the destruction of gingival, or gum, tissue. It may also, eventually, lead to further complications, including the loss of teeth.
How to treat gingivitis?
Gingivitis often resolves with good oral hygiene, such as longer and more frequent brushing, and flossing. In addition, an antiseptic mouthwash may help.
What are the two types of gingival diseases?
Types. There are two main categories of gingival diseases: Dental plaque-induced gingival disease: This can be caused by plaque, systemic factors, medications, or malnutrition. Non-plaque induced gingival lesions: This can be caused by a specific bacterium, virus, or fungus.
What is the term for the inflammation of the gums?
Gingivitis means inflammation of the gums, or gingiva. It commonly occurs because a film of plaque, or bacteria, accumulates on the teeth. Gingivitis is a non-destructive type of periodontal disease, but untreated gingivitis can progress to periodontitis. This is more serious and can eventually lead to loss of teeth.
How can gingivitis be reversed?
Treatment. If diagnosis happens early, and if treatment is prompt and proper, gingivitis can be successfully reversed. Treatment involves care by a dental professional, and follow-up procedures carried out by the patient at home.
What are the symptoms of gingivitis?
Signs and symptoms of gingivitis might include: bright red or purple gums. tender gums that may be painful to the touch. bleeding from the gums when brushing or flossing. halitosis, or bad breath.
Why do people with gingivitis have a higher risk of developing it?
This is thought to be due to the type of bacteria we acquire during our early life.
How to prevent gingivitis?
Good oral hygiene can help to prevent gingivitis. Only if you clean your teeth properly can treatment by a dentist stop – or at least slow down – the progression of periodontitis. It’s also very important to carry on taking good care of your teeth after having treatment, in order to prevent periodontitis from getting worse.
How do you know if you have gingivitis?
The main signs of gingivitisare red, swollen and bleeding gums. The gums bleed when you clean your teeth, and sometimes for no obvious reason too. Gingivitis generally doesn’t cause any pain or other symptoms, so it remains undetected for quite some time.
What is the procedure to remove plaque and tartar from the gum line?
This is known as scaling and root planing, or “deep cleaning.” If this treatment doesn't help enough, dentists sometimes recommend surgery to clean the surface of the root of the tooth.
Why do my gums feel swollen?
It is mainly found where the tooth and gum meet, and may feel a bit “furry” when you run your tongue over it. The bacteria in the plaque “eat” sugars in food in your mouth, and their waste products can cause the gums to become inflamed and swollen. You can get rid of plaque by cleaning your teeth properly. In other words, good oral hygiene can reduce the risk of gingivitisand periodontitis.
How to remove plaque from teeth?
Although plaque forms very quickly, you can easily remove it by cleaning your teeth regularly and thoroughly – using an interdental brush or dental floss too. A dentist or dental hygienist can show children and teenagers how to clean their teeth properly. German statutory health insurers cover the costs of this patient education in young people under the age of 18.
What to do if your dentist suspects periodontitis?
If the dentist suspects that you might have periodontitis, other examinations will be necessary – for example, x-rays to find out whether any bone tissue has been broken down.
Why is my gum getting bigger?
Certain medications might cause the gum to get bigger, making it harder to clean the teeth properly and increasing the risk of gum disease. Examples include medications that suppress the immune system and medications for cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease.
What is the specificity of bacteria adhesion?
Bacterial adhesion has demonstrated specificity in the mechanisms involved and studies have shown that there is a diversity of receptors on tooth surfaces, epithelial or other host cells and other bacteria.
Is bacteria aetiological?
In the last 30-40 years, a vast amount of evidence has been published to suggest that bacteria are the primary aetiological agents of periodontal diseases. In the 1950s and early 1960s, periodontal treatment was based on the non-specific plaque hypothesis.
Clinical research on arthritis sufferers
Dental researchers from Germany’s Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg recently analyzed the synovial fluid of 42 patients – average age of 54 years old – with rheumatoid arthritis. They compared this information with 114 control subjects around the same age who had no arthritis and no other rheumatoid conditions.
Similar findings in other studies
Last year researchers from New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases analyzed newly diagnosed and new onset rheumatoid arthritis patients for links between gingivitis and their arthritis.
What is bacteria translocation?
Quite simply “extra-oral translocation” means the bacteria are moving – translocating – from the oral cavity to other parts of the body.
REFERENCES
Piau C, Arvieux C, Bonnaure-Mallet M, Jolivet-Gougeon A. Capnocytophaga spp. involvement in bone infections: a review. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2013 Jun;41 (6):509-15.
What disease is associated with gum disease?
They studied dead and living patients with diagnosed and suspected Alzheimer's and found bacteria associated with chronic gum disease in the brains of people with Alzheimer's, BBC News reported.
Does bacteria cause Alzheimer's?
The bacteria also boosted production of amyloid beta, a component of brain plaques associated with Alzheimer's, BBC News reported.
Overview
Signs and symptoms
Cause
Diagnosis
Prevention
Treatment
The symptoms of gingivitis are somewhat non-specific and manifest in the gum tissue as the classic signs of inflammation:
• Swollen gums
• Bright red or purple gums
• Gums that are tender or painful to the touch
See also
The cause of plaque-induced gingivitis is bacterial plaque, which acts to initiate the body's host response. This, in turn, can lead to destruction of the gingival tissues, which may progress to destruction of the periodontal attachment apparatus. The plaque accumulates in the small gaps between teeth, in the gingival grooves and in areas known as plaque traps: locations that serve to accumulate and maintain plaque. Examples of plaque traps include bulky and overhanging resto…