Understanding Gingivitis Pain and Its Treatment at Pearl Dental Clinic
Are you experiencing discomfort and pain due to gingivitis? At Pearl Dental Clinic, we understand the impact of gingivitis on your oral health and overall well-being. Our Specialist Periodontist and the entire team dedicate themselves to providing effective treatment for gingivitis and restoring your oral health.
What is Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is a common and mild form of gum disease. It can cause irritation, redness, and swelling in your gums. It is often the result of poor oral hygiene, leading to the build-up of plaque and bacteria along the gum-line. We recommend that you take gingivitis seriously and to promptly treat it. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to more severe forms of gum disease called periodontitis. It can cause persistent pain and potential tooth loss.
Symptoms of Gingivitis Pain
Gingivitis pain can show itself in various ways. These include:
- Gum Sensitivity: Your gums may feel tender to the touch and bleed easily, especially during brushing or flossing.
- Swollen Gums: Inflamed gums are a common sign of gingivitis. Discomfort usually accompanies such inflammation.
- Bad Breath: Persistent bad breath, despite regular oral care, can be a symptom of gingivitis.
- Receding Gums: As gingivitis progresses, you may notice your gums pulling away from your teeth, causing pain and sensitivity.
The most common cause of gingivitis is not maintaining your teeth and gums as clean and healthy as they should be. Good oral health habits like brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily and getting regular dental checkups, can help prevent and even reverse gingivitis.
When you do not maintain your oral hygiene properly, plaque (mainly made up of bacteria) forms on your teeth. Plaque that stays on your teeth will then harden under your gumline into tartar. This creates a protective sheet for bacteria causing irritation to the gumline. The longer that tartar remains on your teeth, the more irritation it will cause to the gingiva. In time, your gums become swollen and bleed easily. This is called gingivitis.
Risk factors
Gingivitis is a very common disease, and anyone can develop it. But there are factors that can increase your risk of gingivitis. The obvious ones are poor oral health habits, smoking, or sub-optimal restorations of your teeth such as a poor filling. Other factors include dry mouth, certain hormonal changes, medical conditions or drugs.
Prevention
To prevent gingivitis, we advise patients to:
- Practice good oral care. That means brushing your teeth for two minutes at least twice daily, and flossing at least once a day. We recommend flossing before you brush, as this cleans away loosened food particles and bacteria.
- Go to the dentist regularly. See your dentist and dental hygienist regularly, usually every 6 to 12 months. If you have risk factors that increase your chance of developing periodontitis — such as having dry mouth, you may need more regular hygiene appointments.
- Take steps to lead a healthy lifestyle. Practices such as healthy eating are also important in supporting the health of your gum.
Our Gingivitis Pain Treatment Approach
At Pearl Dental Clinic, we offer a comprehensive approach to treating gingivitis pain. Our experienced registered gum Specialist will conduct a thorough examination to assess the severity of your condition. We will then create a personalised treatment plan to address your specific needs.
Call us on 02085479997 to discuss further or to schedule an appointment.
