Understand the following sundry gingivitis to minimize the risk of health problems in the teeth and oral cavity.
Oral and dental health can reflect your health. Sometimes you think you have taken good care of your teeth. The assessment is usually only by seeing that there are no cavities, and no complaints are felt in the mouth, including the gums.
Inside the mouth, the tissue where the teeth are located is also known as periodontal tissue. This periodontal tissue includes the gums, alveolar bone and ligaments. When periodontal tissue has problems, many people don’t realize it. Because the pain or complaints that occur are usually not sharp and the pain feels similar to a toothache.
Under normal conditions, healthy gums are pink in color and have a sulcus or area attached to the gum with a depth of 0-3 mm at the edges.
Usually, a person begins to notice gingivitis when there is bleeding at the edges when brushing teeth, or there is also discomfort, but not significant pain. When there is inflammation of the gums, the edges will turn reddish in color, and in later stages will be accompanied by swelling.
Gingivitis occurs when the body’s defense mechanism reacts in response to the presence of bacteria in the oral cavity. This happens because the body’s defense mechanism tries to fight bacteria that settle in the area of the teeth and mouth.
Other risk causes of gingivitis
Usually, dirt on the teeth can trigger the formation of plaque that is left behind, as well as tartar which will stimulate the emergence of gingivitis. Even though you have paid attention to oral hygiene – including routinely cleaning tartar every 6 months – but sometimes gingivitis still appears.
Therefore, you need to pay attention to a number of other risks that can be the cause of gingivitis. Some of these risks include:
- Smoking habit. This bad habit will generate heat and make it difficult for gum tissue to regenerate.
- Dentures. When you wear dentures that are not the right size, they can traumatize the tissues that support them.
- Nutritional deficiency or vitamin deficiency. This condition can cause gingivitis because nutrients and vitamins are factors that support the overall vitality of the body.
- Uncontrolled blood sugar. Diabetes that arises as a result of uncontrolled blood sugar can increase the risk of infection in gingivitis.
- Age. In fact, age can affect hormonal changes and changes in a person’s physiology.
- Fungi and viruses. Infections due to certain fungi and viruses can worsen the condition of gingivitis suffered by a person.
- Decreased immune system. Systemic conditions and medications for certain diseases such as AIDS as well as chemotherapy treatments can also exacerbate gingivitis.
- Pregnancy period. During pregnancy, hormonal changes occur in the form of increased steroid hormones in the gum fluid. Thus, gingivitis can develop into bleeding gums and headaches, which is medically known as pregnancy-associated gingivitis.
- Allergic reactions due to the use of certain drugs. Be careful if you have allergies to certain medications, as they pose a risk of gingivitis.
- Drug abuse and drug use. Errors or inappropriate use of drugs can worsen the condition of gingivitis that is being suffered.
As described above, the periodontal tissue consists of the gums, alveolar bone and their ligaments. When gingivitis is left untreated, it can lead to alveolar bone destruction. Alveolar bone is the bone that supports the implanted teeth. So when the inflammation of the gums is left, the damage will continue to the inside. This condition causes severe damage to the alveolar bone and ligaments, which can cause the teeth to loosen, fall out or fall out on their own.
Treatment stages
Through a physical examination, the dentist can find a clinical picture of the condition of a person’s gums to then determine the diagnosis. The dentist will perform dental probing to determine the depth of the gum sulcus and see how the periodontal tissue is.
Generally, no laboratory or radiological examination is required. However, if there are other suspicions of gingivitis, radiological examinations and laboratory tests will be carried out to diagnose the cause of gingivitis, so that the dentist is able to provide the right solution for you.
Now you know all about gingivitis. Make sure you keep taking care of your teeth and mouth regularly. Check with the dentist every 6 months. In addition to maintaining optimal hygiene, this can help you more quickly find out the condition of your teeth and mouth when problems occur. Thus, you can immediately see a dentist to get the right treatment.