Gingivitis
Do your gums look swollen and bleeding?
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums caused primarily by dental plaque (biofilm) and tartar. It is detected by bleeding gums when brushing or flossing, by redness of the gums or the presence of swelling. The gumline can be sensitive to brushing, flossing, or even cleaning.
A gateway to your body
Gingivitis is a direct gateway to your body. If your gums are bleeding, your body is vulnerable and you can start a gum infection (also called periodontitis). Untreated gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, which is an infection of the supporting tissues of the tooth (the bone and the gums).
Les traitements pour la gingivite sont simples :
- Good dental hygiene
- Regular visits with the dental hygienist
- Laser treatments to reduce inflammation when needed
What is Dental Plaque?
Dental plaque is a collection of food debris, microbes and their toxins, which accumulate on your teeth. When we brush and floss our teeth, we take it out, unfortunately, it immediately starts to accumulate again. Some people will tend to accumulate dental plaque more easily than others, so it becomes very important to successfully remove it, because it is the cause of several dental disorders, such as gingivitis, periodontitis, caries dental, bad breath…
Since gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, diet is also important!
Sugar feeds the bacteria in dental plaque (biofilm) which as soon as it calcifies becomes tartar, one of the causes of gum inflammation and bone resorption. A poor diet does not cause gum disease but:
- Makes it progress faster and more severely
- Accentuates inflammation and delays healing
Order of Dental Hygienists of Quebec: Good food, beautiful mouth!
