Gums that are swollen, excessively red or bleeding are a sign of gingivitis. Gingivitis is the less severe form of gum disease, but if left untreated it can advance to the more severe form, periodontitis.
Periodontal or gum disease is common, being caused by poor dental hygiene in some people. For other people, even practicing good oral hygiene doesn’t stop them from getting gum disease. It can be genetic, or caused by certain medical conditions or medications. If you have swollen or bleeding gums, don’t feel guilty. Dentists see this all the time and want to help. The sooner you get to the dentist for treatment, the better off your gums and teeth will be.
Gingivitis involves a film of bacteria, called plaque, which can harden if not cleaned away. When it hardens, it’s called tartar. Removal of plaque and tartar can be accomplished rather easily by a dentist when gingivitis is present. If gingivitis isn’t treated, bacteria will begin to appear below the gumline. This is periodontitis. This condition will slowly start to cause the gums to separate from the teeth. Ultimately, the teeth can fall out.
Periodontitis can be reversed with scaling and root planing, a method of deep cleaning the teeth. Â The hardened tartar is scraped off (scaling) and the exposed root of the tooth is cleaned and smoothed to prevent more bacterial buildup (root planing.) This is done under local anesthesia to make it a comfortable procedure.
If periodontitis is left untreated and becomes severe, surgery may be required to repair the gums and save the teeth. This situation is completely preventable by having regular dental checkups to keep gingivitis under control, so it won’t advance to periodontitis. At home, always remember to floss after you brush, at least twice a day. Flossing gets rid of food particles between your teeth. Eliminating these food particles by flossing greatly reduces the chance of bacteria forming.
If you experience swollen or bleeding gums, an appointment and evaluation with your dentist would be highly recommended, as we all want (and need) a lifetime of healthy gums.
