Gingivitis and Dental Hygiene

Gingivitis is a disease of the gums, also called gingiva, caused by an accumulation of plaque on the surface of a tooth. It is followed by another gingival disease called periodontitis if it goes untreated. While gingivitis is not destructive, periodontitis is. Gingivitis is the precursor to periodontitis in that periodontitis does not occur without it. Over time periodontitis will destroy all the support structures of the tooth, including the gums and underlying connective tissue. It will also attack and possibly destroy the alveolar bone which will cause loss of the tooth among other problems.

There are several causes of gingival disease, though poor dental hygiene is the most common reason for having this disease. Irregular teeth can also cause irritation to the gums resulting in gingival disease. Among the less common causes are hormones due to pregnancy, and diabetes. The bad dental habits that cause gingival disease include wearing unclean dentures or other appliances, or simply not brushing regularly. Over time plaque can build up around braces and bridgework and can lead to gingival disease.

The primary symptoms of gingival disease are swollen gums, bleeding of the gums due to having brushed or flossed the teeth and bad breath. Having a substantial buildup of plaque on the teeth or in periodontal pockets is also a reliable indicator of an infection. Periodontal pockets are deep gaps that occur between the gum and the teeth. Abscesses forming in the gums, due to food and plaque getting caught in the periodontal pockets can destroy the tooth and the gum as well as loosening other nearby teeth.

Plaque is a bacterial film that grows on the surface of teeth. It accumulates in quantities substantial enough to cause gingival disease largely as a result of poor dental hygiene. It consists of the thousands of bacteria that call the human mouth home. These microorganisms feed on sugar and produce waste that leads to dental cavities along with gingival infections.

Gingival disease is easily prevented with a regimen of daily brushing and flossing as well as using mouthwashes that contain alcohol which kill the bacteria. Regular cleaning by a dentists is also essential. If the disease is already present a dentist will employ a special cleaning method in order to correct the condition. This cleaning is termed scaling and debridement in which the dentist will clean below the gum line. The patient may need to be placed under (local) anesthesia for this procedure to be completed. If the gingival disease is due to irregular teeth, the dentist may correct these.