Pink in the sink
My hygienist told me I have gingivitis. How do I know if I have gingivitis?
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums. Signs that you may have gingivitis are red puffy gums that bleed easily when you brush or floss them.
There are 2 types of gingivitis:
Dental plaque gingivitis-caused by plaque, medications or systemic factors
Non plaque gingivitis-caused by fungus, viruses, genetic factors, foreign bodies and allergic reaction
Plaque is that sticky colourless biofilm that constantly forms around your teeth. The plaque contains millions of bacteria (germs) which causes your body to react creating red swollen gums. Some people have a more severe reaction to the plaque than others causing more pain and swelling. If plaque is not removed in a timely fashion it can also create tartar which is hard and cant be removed with flossing or brushing.
So…..If your gums are red and they bleed when brushing or flossing you may have gingivitis.
What can I do to fix it?
In addition to daily brushing and flossing, mouth rinses, or mouthwash can help keep things healthy. An alcohol free antibacterial rinse helps to kill bacteria left behind by brushing and flossing. It gets all the bacteria on the roof of your mouth, the inside of your cheeks and all the places your toothbrush can’t reach. It helps to reduce the number of bad bacteria so the good bacteria in your mouth can thrive and build up your natural defences. If used as directed by your dental professional it can really help to reduce plaque bacteria in your mouth and reduce gingivitis.
Your hygienist can also help you during your regular dental check ups with tips and advise on what areas you are missing in your mouth.
The good news is gingivitis is reversible.
Interesting fact:
* Gingivitis is the second most common oral disease after cavities affecting more than 75% of the population worldwide
About 90% of those adults don't even know they have gingivitis (gum disease is silent)
* Men are more likely to have gum disease than women
* Gum disease is contagious
* Dental implants can get gum disease as well
So before you see pink in the sink make sure you take care of your pearly whites and the pink gums in between.
Thanks Victoria for your helpful tips
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