Gingivitis Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Did you know that having a healthy mouth is also an important part of a healthy body? It’s because oral health problems can reduce a person’s quality of life by affecting their well-being. And like any other ailment, an oral disease, like any other disease, needs to be treated. However, how do you know if you have an oral disease? Chronic infections deserve a proper diagnosis and treatment and should not be ignored but often is because bleeding or tender gums are often overlooked.

If you think you’re suffering from gingivitis, we’ve compiled a list of things you need to look out for.

What is Gingivitis:

According to Oral B, gingivitis  is an early stage of gum disease caused by the buildup of plaque. If left untreated, gingivitis can develop into periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease.

Gingivitis Symptoms and Signs:

Because gingivitis doesn’t often cause pain, many people don’t know they have it. In fact, as many as 70 per cent of Canadians will experience some degree of gingivitis during their lifetime. Some symptoms of gingivitis include red, swollen, and bleeding gums, bad breath, tooth pain or sensitivity, and loose teeth. However, since it doesn’t always cause pain, it’s important not only to know what to look for, but also to see your dentist and hygienist regularly for cleanings and checkups.

There are two main categories of gingivitis:

  1. Plaque-induced gingival disease: Excess plaque buildup (caused by poor diet, medications, etc.) can increase your chances of getting gingivitis.
  2. Non-plaque induced gingival lesions: Gingivitis can also be caused by specific bacterium, viruses, or fungi,  genetic factors, systemic conditions (including allergic reactions and certain illnesses), wounds, or negative reactions.

Causes of Gingivitis:

The most common cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene. When you suffer from poor oral hygiene, this creates a breeding ground for plaque; causing inflammation of the surrounding gum tissues. 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.

Other factors include:

  1. Changes in hormones:  During certain stages in a female’s life (i.e. puberty, menopause, during the menstrual cycle) the gingiva may become more sensitive, raising the risk of inflammation.
  2. Some illnesses: Cancer, diabetes and HIV are linked to a higher risk of gingivitis as these illnesses all interfere with the immune system and affects the body’s ability in one way or another to use blood sugar.
  3. Drugs: Since your saliva acts as a protective coat for your teeth and gums, oral health may be affected by some medications (i.e. Dilantin®, Procardia® or Adalat®)  because they drastically reduce the saliva flow.
  4. Smoking: Regular smokers more commonly develop gingivitis compared with non-smokers, because smoking makes it harder for gum tissue to repair itself by upsetting the balance of repair and breakdown of oral tissues.
  5. Poor diet: Vitamin-C deficiencies and high consumption of sugars are  linked to gum disease.
  6. Family history: Those whose parent or parents have had gingivitis have a higher risk of developing it too as you may have acquired a bacteria in your early stages of life.
  7. Over consumption of alcohol

Fortunately, if you do have gingivitis, it  can usually be reversed with the help of your dental team. Gingivitis is 100 per cent treatable and preventable. The best way to treat it is to catch it early and this can be done by sticking to a regular dental regime of brushing and flossing and regular dental checkups.If you do notice the signs, make a dental appointment as soon as possible. Your hygienist will remove plaque and can help diagnose and control the disease before it advances.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

Different stages of a woman’s life and their oral health conditions

Were you aware that women’s oral health needs change and different stages throughout their life?  In fact, women have special oral health requirements during the unique phases in their lives because of the unique hormonal changes they encounter. These hormonal changes not only affect the blood supply to the gum tissue, but also the body’s response to the toxins that result from plaque buildup. As a result of these changes, women are more prone to the development of periodontal disease at certain stages of their lives, as well as to other oral health problems.

At what stages in a woman’s life is she more susceptible to periodontal disease and other oral health problems?

Changes in female hormone levels during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause exaggerate the way gums react to plaque. There are five stages in a women’s life during which changes in hormone levels make them more susceptible to oral health problems: during puberty, the monthly menstruation cycle, when using oral contraceptives, throughout pregnancy and during menopause.

  • During puberty: Hormonal fluctuations during your menstrual cycle can lead to oral health conditions such as swollen and sensitive gums, inflamed saliva glands as well as mouth sores. It’s important to be extra vigilant about following your daily oral care routine during this period of time (i.e. brushing and flossing after every meal).
  • During menstruation: The increase in progesterone that occurs during the menstrual cycle means that some women experience oral changes that can include bright red swollen gums, swollen salivary glands, development of canker sores, or bleeding gums. Known as “menstruation gingivitis” it usually occurs a day or two before the start of the period and clears up shortly after the period has started.
  • If you’re taking contraceptives: Long-term use of oral contraceptives can lead to gingivitis, as most contraceptives contain progesterone or estrogen. Additionally, women who take oral contraceptives are twice as susceptible to develop dry socket.
  • If you’re pregnant: Hormone levels change considerably during pregnancy. Studies show that an increased level of progesterone makes you more susceptible to bacterial plaque, causing gingivitis which is most noticeable during the second to eighth month of pregnancy.
  • If you’re going through menopause: Numerous oral changes can occur as a consequence of advanced age. Studies show that many women in their advanced years experience dry mouth, increased levels of dental plaque, inflamed gums, change in taste buds and oral discomfort (for some it’s almost a burning sensation in the mouth). Additionally, there have been studies that suggest a link between osteoporosis and bone loss in the jaw.

Women can maintain their oral health through good oral health habits like brushing, flossing, regularly visiting the dentist and following a healthy diet. You can find additional information on women’s health and periodontal at the American Academy of Periodontology.

How Does a Good Oral Care Regime Benefit Your Heart

The link between oral health and the heart has been known for a century, but within the last few decades, health professionals have seen the evidence of two specific links between oral health and heart disease. First, if you have gum disease in a moderate or advanced stage, you’re at a greater risk for heart disease than someone with healthy gums. Second, oral health can provide doctors and health care professionals (HCPs) with warning signs for a range of diseases and conditions, including those in the heart.

How does it happen:

There are two factors why HCPs think gum disease is the reason behind heart disease.

  1. They suspect the link between the two diseases is due to the same bacteria. During normal chewing or brushing, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and move to other parts of the circulatory system, contributing to cardiovascular disease.
  2. Bacteria that causes gum disease can enter the bloodstream whenever your gums bleed. That type of bacteria is thought to promote fatty plaques that can get into the arteries around your heart, fostering an environment for heart disease.

Who is at Risk?

Patients with chronic gum conditions (such as gingivitis or advanced periodontal disease) have the highest risk for heart disease.

How is oral health linked to heart health?

Oral health and heart disease are connected by the spread of bacteria and other germs from your mouth to other parts of your body through the blood stream. When these bacteria reach the heart, they can attach themselves to any damaged area and cause inflammation.

What other conditions may be linked to oral health?

  • Diabetes: Gum disease appears to happen more to people who have diabetes as they have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels. Regular periodontal care can improve diabetes control by scaling and root planing, which makes it more difficult for plaque to accumulate along the root surfaces.
  • Endocarditis: Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of your heart and typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from your mouth spread through your bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in your heart.
  • HIV/AIDS: Oral problems like painful mucosal lesions are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.
  • Other Conditions:  According to the Mayo clinic other conditions that may be linked to oral heath are eating disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, head and neck cancers, and Sjogren’s syndrome, an immune system disorder that causes dry mouth.

How to maintain a good oral care regime:

The most important thing you can do to avoid gum disease and maintain good oral health including prevention of tooth decay or cavities is:

  • Brush teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
  • Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner
  • Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks
  • Visit your dentist regularly for oral examinations and professional cleanings

Being proactive about your oral health means you can protect yourself from developing a connection between oral health and heart disease, and keep your smile healthy, clean and beautiful throughout your life.

What’s the Best Way to Care for Dentures?

Removable partial or full dentures require proper care to keep them clean, stain-free and looking their best. For good denture care and to maintain good oral health, you need to care for complete and partial dentures as carefully as you would look after natural teeth. Proper denture care is important for both the health of your dentures and mouth.

Here are some tips for on how to clean your dentures:

  • Clean your dentures every day. Plaque and tartar can build up on false teeth, just like they do on natural teeth. If there is too much plaque on your dentures, this increases the risk of infection and irritation. To properly clean your dentures, either use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a toothbrush specifically for dentures. To keep them pearly white, use regular hand soap, detergent or a mildly abrasive toothpaste to keep the removable dentures clean.

Note: Regular toothpaste is too abrasive and can cause scratches in the denture acrylic. 

  • Take your dentures out every night and soak them. After you brush your dentures, brush your teeth and gums using a soft toothbrush. If a soft-bristled toothbrush hurts your teeth, run it under warm water to make it softer or try using a finger wrapped in a clean, damp cloth. By keeping them in water or denture solution, the acrylic won’t dry out over time, ensuring they won’t become brittle or lose their fit.
  • Handle them with care. Since dentures are a very expensive appliance, it’s best to keep them out of the reach of children, pets and to be very careful with them as they can break. As an extra precaution, keep them on a towel or soft surface (to reduce the risk of them breaking) and stay away from toothpicks, hard toothbrushes or anything that can potentially cause damage.

General rules of thumb for denture care:

  • Remember to visit the dentist at least once a year. According to the Canadian Dental Association, it’s important to visit your dentist at least once a year to examine your teeth and check if there are any oral sores (which can become cancerous). On these visits, your dentist will also look at the fit of your dentures since the gums and bones in our mouths change over time which can lead to an improper denture fit. Poorly fitting dentures can cause problems like sores, pain and burning and can be a sign of periodontal disease.
  • Maintain a healthy diet. Research from the Canada Food Guide suggests that to maintain good oral health, it’s important that you’re eating a well-balanced diet with the essential vitamins and nutrients. Proper nutrition decreases your chances of gum disease.
  • Don’t expose your dentures to elevated temperatures. Exposing your dentures to extreme hot or cold temperatures may cause dimensional distortion, thus affecting their fit. Soaking and rinsing should be done in room temperature solutions.

It’s important to maintain good oral health by keeping your dentures, any remaining natural teeth and mouth clean. Like natural teeth, dentures attract plaque, can stain and collect food particles that cause bad breath and irritate gums. If there are any questions or concerns that you may have when it comes to cleaning your dentures, ask your dentist about the range of adhesive products that may help stabilize the denture and be sure to ask all the questions you need as they are experts and they are there to help.