Three Things To Know About Gingivitis

Gingivitis or gum disease is one of the most common oral diseases, affecting about 47 percent of American adults, according to the CDC. As a disease that strikes adults from an age above twenty years, gingivitis can impact just about anyone at any time. To help you learn more about this oral disease, we have created a brief guide that includes three things to know about gingivitis. Read on to find out more:

1. It’s Reversible

Even though having gingivitis itself isn’t something that you likely see as a benefit, there are some advantages to having it, including the fact that it is a reversible oral condition. By scraping away the plaque and tartar on your teeth, the symptoms of gingivitis should go away after a couple of weeks, depending on how severe your condition is.

2. Bleeding Gums Don’t Always Mean You Have It

One of the most common symptoms of gingivitis is having red, swollen, bleeding gums. However, bleeding gums aren’t always indicative of gingivitis. For instance, a lot of pregnant women or women who are going through menopause suffer from bleeding gums because of the increased blood flow and hormone changes. If your gums are bleeding a lot and the bleeding isn’t subsiding, then schedule an appointment with Gentle Dentistry to ensure you don’t have gingivitis.

3. Tobacco Can Make It Worse

If you are looking for another reason to quit smoking, then here it is. Tobacco use can reduce your chance of fighting infection and bacteria— meaning that your gingivitis is more likely to turn into something serious like periodontitis if left untreated.

As an easily treatable oral disease, gingivitis is luckily reversible. If you have symptoms of gingivitis and would like to learn more about how it is treated, contact Gentle Dentistry today to schedule an examination.