3 Things to Know About Gingivitis
- Posted on: Jun 15 2017
As one of the most common oral diseases, gingivitis or gum disease is something that the CDC reports about 47% of American adults have. As a disease that affects adults from twenty years old on up, gingivitis can impact just about anyone at any time. To help you learn more about this oral disease, we have created a brief guide including three things to know about gingivitis. Read on to find out more.
- It’s Reversible
Even though having gingivitis itself isn’t something that you likely see as a benefit, there are some advantages of having it, including the fact that 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.
- 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, however, your gums are bleeding a lot and it isn’t subsiding, then schedule an appointment with Gentle Dentistry to make sure you don’t have gingivitis.
- 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.
Posted in: Preventative Dentistry