Dealing With Gingivitis

what is this condition?

Gingivitis is known as the earliest stages of gum disease, and can affect the entire body, not just the mouth. It is typically caused by the absence of well performed oral hygiene, and is a buildup of plaque within the mouth. When plaque builds up after a certain sensitive threshold, many of the affected areas turn into tartar, which is much more difficult to remove by simply brushing. This Gingivitis Update from Therabreath tells us a lot about the condition, its origins, and effects on the body. When this area becomes very heavily infested by bacteria, the inflamed gums that are one telltale sign of gingivitis are the result of the fight that ensues against this dental plaque.

Just brushing everyday is not going to necessary get rid of gingivitis, even though it is a good start. Many natural remedies have been suggested, and some of the myths regarding gingivitis is that avoiding certain foods like garlic may help. When it comes right down to it, it’s a very complex problem, and a lot of these germs live under the tongue. It is the most common form of oral and dental disease, and approximately half of adults under 50 years old are stricken by it. Sometimes it is passed from parents to children, and just like any health condition, there are many different factors that it can be attributed to.

Some risks if gingivitis goes untreated

• Potential for heart disease
• Can aggravate other health conditions like stress and anxiety
• A future potential for osteoporosis
• May lead to certain birth defects
• Can contribute to the onset of diabetes
• Future risk for different respiratory diseases

Things that contribute to gingivitis

The American Academy of Periodontology claims that if one member of the family has this form of oral disease, others may as well. Here we will take a quick glance at some of the factors that contribute to gingivitis, because with any health condition, you want to know some things to try and prevent it.
1. Medications: Some over the counter cold remedies as well as anti depressants can contribute to the environment in which the plaque finds a good area to grow and breed. Some oral contraceptives and anti seizure medications will also cause this area to be ripe for plaque breeding and growth.
2. Infections: If you have a viral or fungal infection, they can also greatly affect the health of your gums. The herpes virus is one of these, that can contribute and fester bleeding sores in the mouth. Oral thrush produces candida, and these types of yeast are always a negative in the battle for a gingivitis free mouth.
3. Hormonal shifts: Events like menopause and pregnancy cause saliva in the mouth to decrease, and less blood is delivered to the gums during them. Pregnant women may be at a greater risk to deliver a premature baby, or one drastically underweight.
4. Inadequate nutrition: An overindulgence in fast foods, trans fats, high sugar intake, and not getting enough vitamins can wreak havoc on the health of your gums and mouth. Fresh fruits and vegetables, antioxidants such as green tea, and products like grapefruit seed extract will help with the nutritional boost, as well as spices like turmeric.
5. Smoking: Not smoking is one of the best things you can do to prevent gingivitis. One study reports that smoking may be responsible for more than half of gum disease cases in the nation, and smokers can be 4 times more likely to develop advanced cases of gingivitis and periodontal disease.

The best treatments for gingivitis

One of the best resources we found on the web was this resource here put out by Life Extension regarding the topic. It gives some very good advice on treatment techniques for this condition, and how to prevent it. Mouth rinses containing folic acid are a good aide in the fight against gum disease, and so are prescription antibacterial mouthwashes that are good in many ways to the gums. A prescription rinse called Decapinol is very instrumental in prevention: it make it easier to remove plaque from brushing, which is usually not as effective as a visit to the dentist. As threatening as this condition is, there are solutions and prevention measures for it: with a bit of care and foresight, gingivitis does not have to linger in your immediate future.

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