The significance of observing oral hygiene cannot be overemphasized in managing gingivitis. If only patients followed doctor’s instructions, managing gingivitis and other medical conditions would be much easier.
The good news is that hope is not lost. There are several tips that will come in handy when dealing with this situation. Bear in mind that prevention is always better than cure. This means that you’ll be required to brush, gargle and floss properly.
What Are the Symptoms of Gingivitis?
There are several recognizable symptoms that include:
- Tender gums
- Swollen gums
- Bleeding
- Thin gum lines
- Loose teeth
- Bad breath
What Are the Causes of Gingivitis?
To solve a problem effectively, it’s imperative to understand the root cause. When managing gingivitis, make sure that you remove all food particles trapped between the teeth after eating. These particles infect the gums resulting to plaque.
As a result, the gums will get inflamed and start to bleed. Plaque is created by a mixture of the food particles, saliva and bacteria. This is bound to cause tooth decay and other gum diseases. Inhibit the buildup of plaque because when it becomes too much, tartar will form.
What Are the Treatment Options?
One of the most important steps in managing gingivitis is seeking treatment immediately after identifying the symptoms. There are several treatment options and the most suitable will depend on the particular case in question.
Some of the treatment techniques that do not involve surgical procedures include:
- Professional Cleaning– For mild cases, professional cleaning will get the job done. Dentists advise such patients to go for this cleaning procedure twice annually. The plague and tartar will be removed during these sessions.
- Rooting and Scaling- This is a cleaning procedure that is quite similar to the one above. However, anesthesia is administered before the cleaning commences. All rough spots including tartar and plaque are removed.
- When dealing with severe cases, the best treatment option in managing gingivitis is surgery. The doctor will consider all risk factors before settling for surgery. There are several types of surgical procedures namely:
- Pocket Reduction and Flap Surgery- Plaque, tartar, gum flaps and all other abnormalities are corrected during the procedure. This improves normal mouth functions such as chewing and talking.
- Tissue Grafts- Infected gums tend to become thin. Skin tissue is removed from soft areas inside the mouth and then used to reinforce the gums. Places that occur in between will also be filled.
- Bone Surgery- When managing gingivitis, some doctors may opt to resolve the condition through bone surgery. All bones that have been weakened by age and ailments can be treated this way. The bone can be removed from another part of the patient’s body.
- Tissue Regeneration- For patients with eroded gums, tissue regeneration is mostly used to treat the condition. The procedure will mostly be aimed at providing extra support to the eroded areas.
All in all, you’ll be required to take charge of the situation by observing oral hygiene. This is the most effective way of managing this ailment.