Do you know what gingivitis is? Well, this is one of the most common oral diseases, and the best way to prevent it is to maintain good oral hygiene. Maintaining good cleaning habits helps keep teeth and gums healthy and beautiful.

The disease itself is not serious, but if not treated early it can cause serious damage to oral health.

Understand what gingivitis is

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums, caused by the accumulation of food residue. Some of the most common symptoms are: redness and swelling in the tissues, bleeding when brushing your teeth and bad breath.

It is also normal for the gums to be retracted. When this factor occurs, teeth appear larger.

Know the causes of gingivitis

When there is no adequate oral hygiene, food residue remains in the mouth and forms a layer of bacteria, which is bacterial plaque. Then, microorganisms attack the gums, causing inflammation.

Furthermore, some factors contribute to increasing the risk of developing gingivitis. They are:

• smoking;
• overweight;
• diabetes;
• gestation;
• contraceptive medicines;
• poor immune system;
• menopause;
• vitamin deficiency;
• excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.

See how to prevent the problem

Now that you know what gingivitis is and its causes, it’s time to learn how to avoid the problem. Rule number 1 is to maintain good oral hygiene. So, at the end of each meal, brush your teeth well and floss at least once a day, if you don’t feel like flossing with the traditional floss, use other options like water flosser.

However, it is important to have a soft-bristled brush to avoid damaging the fabrics and promote efficient cleaning.

Furthermore, using mouthwash as recommended by your dentist also helps to eliminate the bacteria that cause gingivitis and keep your breath fresh.

Discover the treatment options for gingivitis

In many cases, good brushing and flossing are enough to solve the problem. However, only when gingivitis is in its early stages. When the disease is at a more advanced stage, it is necessary to make an appointment with the dentist.

When the disease worsens, it is normal for the patient to have difficulty brushing their teeth, as the bleeding is more intense and they may feel pain.

The treatment consists of a deep cleaning. The professional uses specific instruments to remove accumulated plaque and tartar, which are the causes of gingivitis.

Learn the importance of treating gingivitis

If gingivitis is not properly treated, it advances and evolves into periodontitis — a serious disease that destroys the tissues and ligaments that support the teeth.

In addition to causing tooth loss, periodontitis also causes other health problems. This is because the bacteria present in the gums can enter the bloodstream, causing comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases.

In pregnant women, there is a risk of premature birth and birth of underweight babies.

Now that you know what gingivitis is, be smart and don’t neglect your oral health. And don’t forget, it is important to go to the dentist every 6 months and always carry out dental prophylaxis, to prevent the disease and maintain oral hygiene.