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Gingivitis
is an easily preventable and treatable disease. To prevent the
occurrence of gingivitis, maintaining proper oral hygiene is of
prime importance. But if gingivitis occurs, a thorough cleaning by a
professional dentist will cure the problem. To avoid recurrence of
the problem, proper oral hygiene has to be maintained followed up
with regularly scheduled visits to the dentists.
Good oral hygiene
A good oral hygiene requires that you brush and floss regularly
along with regularly scheduled visits to the dentists. By brushing
teeth regularly with a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste approved
by dentists, plaque build-up can be kept to a minimum. The
recommended schedule for brushing is two times a day – once in the
morning and once at night. It is also recommended that you use a
soft-bristled brush and brush your teeth gently. It is a good idea
to change your toothbrush every three months.
Brushing is important but it will not remove the plaque and
particles of food between your teeth, under the gum line, or under
braces. For this, you will need to floss these spaces at least once
a day. Flossing removes plaque between your teeth and gums and is
crucial for good oral hygiene.
Regular check-ups with a dentist are also important. A dentist will
be able to remove plaque that is too dense to be removed by a
toothbrush or dental floss. A dental check-up should be scheduled
twice a year – once every six month – to maintain strong,
healthy teeth.
Treating gingivitis
Removing the source of the infection is primarily how simple
gingivitis is treated.
Once gingivitis has set, a thorough cleaning of the teeth by a
profession will ensure that the infection is cleared. Cleaning of
the teeth is done by a professional dentist. Moderate to advanced
gum disease usually requires a thorough cleaning of the teeth and
teeth roots called root scaling and planing. In root scaling, the
plaque and tartar from exposed teeth roots is removed. It removes
all of the irritants under the gums to eliminate inflammation and
infection. Most dentists also use ultrasonic vibrating tools to
blast deposits off of teeth. It is akin to removing the scales from
a fish. This procedure leaves a rough surface, so planing is needed.
The dentist surgically planes the root surfaces which allow the gums
to regenerate without irritation. The gum tissue shrinks and
tightens around the teeth. It also reduces bleeding gums. Both of
these procedures are usually performed under local anesthesia and
may be accompanied by the use of oral antibiotics to overcome gum
infection or abscess.
In some patients, scaling and root planing is the only treatment needed. It typically eliminates the inflammation and infection that promotes the tissue destruction around teeth and is most effective is treating gingivitis.
Gingivitis caused by vitamin deficiencies is treated by administering the needed vitamin.
Severe gingivitis may require antibiotics and consultation with a physician. Antibiotics are medications used to help the body's immune system fight bacterial infection and have been shown to reduce plaque. And reducing plaque is the first step in treating gingivitis. Remember that antibiotics should be taken only after consultation with a dentist or doctor. |
