Gum Diseases: Gingivitis and Periodontitis

First of all, you should know that if your gums are receding, bleed excessively or are swollen, inflamed or red, you should consult your dentist, as you may have contracted gum disease.
One of the characteristic aspects of gum disease is that, contrary to tooth problems, it does not manifest itself through pain or discomfort. Therefore, this type of diseases implies that both patients and dentists should be alert to potential symptoms that may indicate them.
At first, these types of problems are called gingivitis, but when they are not treated they can evolve into periodontitis. In this sense, we will now discuss what each of these diseases is.

What is gingivitis?
Gingivitis is an inflammatory disease in which bacteria attack the periodontal tissues and cause inflammation of the gums. Most of the time gingivitis is caused by the accumulation of plaque and tartar on the teeth and gums. Only in rare cases does gingivitis originate from genetic disorders, inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. However, in both cases, it is important that this disease is detected as early as possible so that adequate treatment can be carried out and it does not evolve into periodontitis.
In this sense, you should be attentive to symptoms such as bleeding or swollen gums and the presence of bacterial plaque or visible, accumulated tartar.

What is periodontitis?
Periodontitis is the most advanced stage of gingivitis and one of the most serious diseases of the gums. In other words, this disease appears when gingivitis is not treated and the accumulation of tartar and inflammation of the gums make the gums move away from the tooth and can even cause the loss of the tooth/s in the inflamed area.

How to avoid gum diseases:
As in the majority of diseases, prevention is always the best option. To do this, you should
– Brush your teeth after every meal;
– Use dental floss;
– Do not smoke;
– Avoid alcohol consumption
– Avoid sugary foods and drinks;
– Improper and exaggerated use of certain medications (e.g. ibuprofen);
– If you suffer from diabetes, hormonal disorders or other diseases that diminish the immune system you should be extra careful and watch out for symptoms;
– Visit the dentist regularly.

In this type of gum disease, the rapid detection of the disease and a preventive attitude are fundamental!
Book your appointment now at Azores Medical – Dental Clinic!