What’s The Problem With Gingivitis – Most People Have It Right?

Gingivitis is the technical term that dentists in Basildon use to describe gum inflammation. It’s the mildest form of gum disease and usually occurs at the very early stages. It’s extremely common in patients. In fact ask any dentist and they’ll tell you that nearly allthe patients they see have some form of gingivitis. So what’s wrong with a spot of gingivitis if nearly everyone has it?

dentists in BasildonThe main cause of gingivitis is the collection of bacteria in and around your teeth. Because your body recognises them as bad bacteria it causes inflammation (just like a splinter in your finger). In the early stages this means slightly inflamed gums that may bleed when you brush them. If you see a little bit of blood when you brush it’s a sure fire sign that you have some form of gingivitis. Other symptoms include a bad taste in the mouth, bad breath, or swollen puffy gums which can be tender to touch.

At this stage although gingivitis might seem particularly harmless, if not treated it can easily lead to full blown gum disease. The issue is that aside from weakening your teeth there is strong evidence to support the fact that the bacteria that causes gum disease can also effect your genera health too. These include conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis and a stroke. While the majority of these conditions make life pretty uncomfortable, heart disease and strokes could kill you!

About prevention

In essence preventing gingivitis is a simple culmination of home treatments and regular visits to your dentist. Basildon clinic Felmores Dental Care for example are more than happy to show patients how to brush better and to point out exactly where they are leaving plaque behind.

Teeth should be brushed slowly and thoroughly. You should be spending at least three minutes (preferably longer) brushing your teeth each session and this needs to be done at least twice a day. After brushing, a good quality dental floss should be used to eradicate any remaining residue that has collected between the teeth. If you want you can also rinse with a high quality antimicrobial mouthwash and finally, if you have time, you might also want to brush your teeth after meals.

Whether you visit an NHS Dentist in Basildon or your local private dentist ask them to talk to you about your gingivitis and what you can do to prevent it. Remember just 6-12 minutes a day is all it takes to make sure that your mouth stays plaque free. For further information why not visit our site at www.felmoresdentalcare.co.uk where you’ll find a wealth of information on how to care for your teeth. Alternatively if you’d like to book a check-up with our friendly and experienced team, contact us today on 01268 726 789.

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