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All You Need to Know About Gingivitis and Periodontitis

Gingivitis and periodontitis are two very common and highly treatable dental conditions. They are also both easily preventable by good and regular dental hygiene practices and regular visits to your family dentist.

Let’s take a look at exactly what these two closely related conditions are, their symptoms, implications and how they are best treated.

More About Gingivitis

Gingivitis is simple inflammation of your gums and surrounding tissue. It is a non-destructive periodontal disease that is easily treated by your nearest family dental clinic. It typically forms due to a build-up of plaque on the surface of your teeth.

Left untreated, this condition can worsen and eventually become the more severe condition known as periodontitis.

The Symptoms of Gingivitis

You may have gingivitis if you have one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Bad breath
  • Bright purple or red gums
  • Bleeding gums, or bleeding gums after flossing and/or brushing
  • Tender or painful gums
  • Swollen gums

Treatment of Gingivitis

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, don’t worry too much. Treatment of gingivitis is a very common practice, and your dentist is perfectly capable of looking after you. A dentist can remove the build-up of plaque that can cause gingivitis and teeth cavities, and advise you of the best way to look after your teeth. Flossing and brushing twice a day is a great start, and a good balanced diet never goes astray when it comes to any area of your health.

More About Periodontitis

Gingivitis is considered a periodontal disease; if it is left untreated it can worsen and become periodontitis. The condition can cause a steady loss of the bone around the teeth, which can in turn lead to the loosening and possible loss of those teeth. Your family dentist can diagnose this condition with an inspection of your gums and an X-Ray.

The Symptoms of Periodontitis

Periodontitis shares many of the symptoms with gingivitis, as listed above. However, its more severe symptoms can include:

  • Gingival recession (the appearance of the teeth become longer due to gum tissue damage)
  • Loose teeth
  • Teeth falling out

Treatment of Periodontitis

As with gingivitis, periodontitis is best treated in a preventative fashion with good dental hygiene, good diet, and regular visits to your dental clinic. An anti-septic mouthwash can be an added preventative measure.

Your dentist can clean your teeth to remove plaque and calcification, and can perform more specialised cleaning below the gum line should the need emerge.

If this treatment is unsuccessful then dental surgery may be required. There are a variety of surgical procedures to treat this condition. The good news is that if, after surgery, you practice proper follow-up maintenance with your family dentist and keep up the good dental hygiene habits, the chances of future tooth loss are significantly reduced!

Ask your local dental clinic for their expert advice on dental hygiene; including brushing and flossing techniques. They’ll be happy to help you prevent these easily avoidable conditions!

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