Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums and is the early stages of gum disease. in fact, it’s one of the most common dental problems. So if you’ve noticed that your gums feel a little tender, are red in colour, or bleed when you brush, then you probably have gingivitis. That’s the bad news….

The good news is that at this stage, it’s not too serious, and if you read on, you’ll learn how to treat gingivitis at home.

Gingivitis causes

If you don’t brush and floss your teeth regularly and properly, then plaque builds up on your teeth and gum line. Plaque is a sticky, colourless substance containing a multitude of harmful bacteria, saliva, and food particles, which irritate and damage the gums causing swelling and bleeding. If left untreated, the condition will worsen and over time it may cause pain in your mouth, tooth loss, and other symptoms associated with advanced gum disease or periodontitis.

Symptoms of gingivitis what to look out for

The colour of your gums are often a good indicator of gingivitis.Healthy gums should be pale pink in colour, or darkish brown or mottled if you’ve got a darker complexion. In addition, they should fit tightly around your teeth and underlying bone.

With this in mind, symptoms which show you may have gingivitis include:

ÔÇó Puffy or swollen gums
ÔÇó Dark red gums
ÔÇó Gums which feel tender
ÔÇó Receding gums
ÔÇó Constant bad breath
ÔÇó Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing

While most symptoms are painless, don’t ever be tempted to ignore them as they can be an indication of more serious problems. Periodontal gum disease can affect your whole body and recent studies have linked it with other health problems including diabetes and heart disease. Fortunately, once you’ve learnt how to get rid of gingivitis it really isn’t that difficult to keep it at bay.

Fighting Back How to treat gingivitis at home

There’s really only one way to treat and prevent gingivitis at home and that’s by getting rid of as much plaque as you possibly can on a daily basis. Provided you catch it early enough you can attack and eliminate plaque by adopting the following steps:

ÔÇó Gingivitis toothpaste If you take a look on your supermarket shelves you’ll find plenty of toothpaste designed to fight plaque and tartar. These provide protection against germs and bacteria for as long as 12 hours, so provided you brush at least twice a day, your teeth and gums will enjoy 24-hour protection.

ÔÇó Brush your teeth more thoroughly It’s important to brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice a day. Try using a timer so you brush for the required length of time and if you find yourself getting bored, why not put in your earplugs and listen to some music while you brush. Pay particular attention to the gumline as this is where plaque can accumulate, and consider switching to an electric toothbrush which often gives a more thorough clean than brushing manually.

ÔÇó Mouthwash for gum disease Always follow up your brushing with an antibacterial mouthwash which can target any plaque lingering in those hard to reach areas.

ÔÇó Floss daily Many people skip flossing and this is a big mistake. Daily flossing is one of the best home care for gingivitis tips we can give you since it removes all those tiny particles of food that get lodged between the teeth and just below the gumline.

If you have the signs and symptoms of gingivitis then we recommend that you also schedule an appointment with your dentist. He or she can diagnose the condition, clean your teeth, and show you how to brush and floss properly. A professional dental clean can often kick-start the reversal of gingivitis followed by good oral hygiene at home. Most times, these two steps are all it takes to eliminate gingivitis and restore healthy gums.

If you suspect you may have gingivitis or simply feel it’s about time you had a dental check-up then we’re here to help. Call Point Cook Dental today on 03 8595 2630 and together we’ll get rid of gingivitis fast.