Has your mouth felt a bit on the sore side lately? Are your gums bleeding when you brush or floss? Do they appear bright red when you smile? If so, there’s a good chance you have gum disease. Unfortunately, this disease is one of those things that can sneak up on us, especially when we’re not as diligent as we want to be with our oral hygiene routine. 

If this sounds like you, you probably want to know how to get rid of gingivitis. And, you probably want to know how you got it in the first place. In this article, we’ll talk about what gum disease is, and the risk factors that might make you more likely to get it.

What is gum disease? 

Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room—what is gum disease? As it would imply, gum disease, also called gingivitis, is a disease of the gums. Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease, where the gums become inflamed due to plaque buildup on the teeth. Plaque consists of a sticky film of bacteria that forms when food particles mix with saliva. If not scrubbed away by brushing and flossing, it hardens into tartar, leading to irritation and swelling of the gums.

Common symptoms of gingivitis include red, swollen gums that may bleed during brushing or flossing. Your gums might also feel tender and sore. If left untreated, gingivitis can turn into periodontitis, a more serious form of this disease that affects the bone and tissues supporting your teeth. This can eventually lead to tooth loss. Catching and treating gum disease early is super important to prevent these complications.

Surprising Risk Factors for Gum Disease

While we wish it wasn’t the case, some people—and their behaviors—put them at higher risk of developing gum disease than others. Here’s a list of those gum disease risk factors. Do any of them apply to you?

• Smoking or using tobacco products
• Diabetes
• Hormonal changes, such as those during pregnancy or menopause
• Medications that reduce saliva flow
• Genetic predisposition
• Stress
• Poor nutrition, especially diets low in vitamin C
• Conditions that cause a weakened immune system, such as HIV/AIDS

If these factors apply to you, it’s important to talk to your Saint Joseph dentist to discuss your options for gum disease prevention. While you might not be able to control the diagnosis of diabetes, you can indeed take extra steps to protect your gum health. If you smoke, you can quit. If your diet is deficient in vitamin C, you can start drinking orange juice or eating more broccoli or Brussels sprouts.

And, you should seek additional treatment. Let’s get into that in the next section.

Treatment Options for Gum Disease

Treatment options for gum disease include a combination of behavior modifications and dental treatments. Here’s what you need to know from your dentist in St. Joseph, Michigan, on how to treat gingivitis. 

We often suggest professional cleanings and scaling to remove plaque and tartar buildup from your teeth and gums. In more severe cases, root planing may be necessary to smooth the tooth roots and help gums reattach.

Maintaining good oral hygiene at home needs to be a priority—brush twice a day, floss daily, and use an antiseptic mouthwash. Regular dental checkups at your Saint Joseph dental clinic every six months are also a must for monitoring your gum health and catching issues early. 

We also recommend that you take steps to manage your stress. Stress and oral health can be a bad combination. When you’re stressed out, you’re less likely to abide by your dental hygiene routine. And when your oral health is bad, it can increase your stress level. To make matters worse, there is a correlation between high blood pressure and gum disease—those with gum disease are twice as likely to have high blood pressure. And, stress increases the risks of high blood pressure, too. Do you see the dilemma?

So, in addition to seeing your dentist for a professional deep cleaning, and prioritizing your oral care at home, take steps to control your stress. Together, these steps can help prevent and manage gum disease.

Berrien Dental can help reduce your risk of gum disease. 

Gum disease is no laughing matter, and it can certainly keep you from feeling like smiling. If you have any of the signs of gum disease that we mentioned above, it’s time to talk to your dentist at Berrien Dental. We’ll help you get on the path to a happy and healthier smile—gums and all.
Contact us today to request an appointment. We look forward to helping you in the fight against gingivitis and periodontal disease.