Causes and Treatment of Gingivitis

Gingivitis is inflammation or inflammation that occurs in the gums. Symptoms of this condition include:

• Swollen gums.
• The gum color changes to dark red.
• Gums are prone to bleeding, for example when brushing teeth.
• Bad breath.
• Gum that shrinks.

Gingivitis rarely causes pain so often the sufferer is not aware. Therefore, we should be vigilant if you experience the above symptoms.

Most cases of gum inflammation, including those with mild or moderate severity, should be treated as soon as possible. Gingivitis that is left unchecked has the potential to develop into periodontitis, which is inflammation of the connective tissue in the gums and in the bones around the teeth, which generally leads to tooth loss.

Immediately check the condition of the teeth and gums if there are symptoms of gum inflammation. Fast and proper handling will prevent the patient from the risk of complications.

Causes of gum inflammation

The main cause of gingivitis or gingivitis is a buildup of plaque. Plaque is formed from a collection of bacteria and food debris that attaches to the surface of the tooth.

The invisible layer will usually disappear by brushing your teeth. But if left in the teeth, the plaque can harden and form tartar which can only be cleaned by the dentist.

This tartar has a thicker outer layer, so the germs in it will be protected and multiply. These germs will irritate the gum layer and cause gum inflammation.

Risk Factors for Gingivitis

Gum inflammation can be experienced by anyone. Here are a number of factors that can increase a person's risk of developing this disease:

• Oral health that is not maintained, for example lazy to brush your teeth.
• Smoking or using tobacco in other forms, such as chewing tobacco. This habit will cause gum tissue to be difficult to regenerate.
• Dentures of an incorrect size.
• Lack of nutrition.
• Has diabetes. This disease can increase the risk of infection.
• Influence of age. The risk of gum inflammation increases with increasing age.
• Infection due to certain fungi and viruses.
• Has a decreased immune system, for example because of HIV or chemotherapy.
• Hormonal changes, for example during puberty or pregnancy.
• Effect of certain drugs.

Gingivitis Diagnosis

In diagnosing gum inflammation, the doctor will first ask about the symptoms experienced by the patient and review his medical history. The doctor will then check the condition of the patient's teeth and gums to see the presence of plaque or tartar, as well as signs of inflammation.

An examination of the depth of the bag formed between the teeth and gums is also important in the diagnosis process. On this examination, the doctor will insert a device into the bag. Normally, the depth of this bag ranges from 1-3 mm. Depths that exceed 4 mm will indicate gum disease.

Your doctor may also advise you to do X-rays of the teeth to see if there is a tooth fracture or loss in the gum bag.

Treatment of Gingivitis

If the cause of gum inflammation is plaque or tartar, the doctor will treat it as soon as possible to prevent complications. This step is generally done by thoroughly cleaning plaque and tartar.

If there is a patient's tooth with a hole or a broken denture, the doctor will fill and repair so that oral health can be maintained. A routine oral health and dental cleaning process is also recommended.

In addition to medical treatment, patients can take a few simple steps to help the recovery process. Some of them include:

• Brushing teeth at least twice a day, especially in the morning after waking up and at night before going to bed.
• Use a soft toothbrush and replace it with a new one every 12-16 weeks.
• Use mouthwash that contains antibacterial if recommended by a doctor.
• Clean between teeth with dental floss or toothpicks. at least once a day.
• Don't smoke or use tobacco in any form.

These steps can also help prevent recurrence of gum inflammation, while reducing the risk of getting this disease. In addition, regular dental care or cleaning of tartar by the dentist (at least 2 times a year) is also an effective step to prevent gum inflammation.

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