Gingivitis

                      GINGIVITIS

INFLAMMATION of gingival is termed as gingivitis.

Types of Gingivitis-

1) Depending on the course and duration

2) Depending on the distribution
  

Depending on the course and duration-

a) Acute Gingivitis-

Acute gingivitis is of sudden onset, short duration and can be painful.

b) Sub acute gingivitis-

It is less severe phase of acute conditions.

c) Chronic Gingivitis-

It is of slow onset, of long duration. Usually painless and the most commonly occurring gingival conditions.

d) Reccurent gingivitis-

Reappears either after treatment or disappears spontaneously.

Depending on the distribution

a) localized gingivitis-

If the condition is involving a single tooth or group of teeth it is called localized gingivitis. 

b) Generalized gingivitis-

If the condition involves the entire mouth, it is called generalized gingivitis. 

Based on distribution gingivitis could be Marginal, papillary or diffuse. 

Marginal gingivitis-

If the inflammation is limited to the marginal gingiva, it is called as Marginal gingivitis. 

Papillary gingivitis-

If the inflammation is limited to the interdental papilla, it is called as papillary gingivitis. 

Diffuse gingivitis-

When the inflammation spreads to attached gingiva also( involving marginal, papilla and attached gingiva), it is called diffuse gingivitis. 

Signs and symptoms-

• 1) Swollen, tender, red or  bleeding gums. 
• 2) Gums that recede or move away from the tooth,         exposing more of the tooth than they should. 
• 3) Persistent bad breath or perpetual bad taste in the mouth. 
• 4) Loose teeth. 

Causes of gingivitis-

1) Poor oral hygiene habits -

Following poor oral hygiene habits like not brushing your teeth properly. 

2) Plaque forms on your teeth-

An invisible, sticky film formed mainly of bacteria

that build up on your teeth is called plaque.plaque should be removed daily. 

 

3) Plaque turns into tartar-

Plaque can harden under your gumline into tartar (calculus), which collects bacteria. You need professional dental cleaning to remove tartar.

4) Hormonal changes-

Including puberty, pregnancy, menopause can increase sensitivity and inflammation in your gums. 

5) Poor Nutrition-

Poor nutrition deprives the body of important nutrients and make it more difficult for the body to fight infection, including gum disease. 

6) Medications-

For many conditions can affect oral health. Tell your dentist if you take any prescription or over the counter medications. 

7) Chronic disease-

Such as diabetes, HIV, impair the body's ability to fight infection, including gum disease. 

Diagnosis of Gingivitis-

1) Checking for signs of periodontitis -

 X-ray or periodontal probing, using an instrument that measures pocket depths around a tooth.check for the signs of bleeding gums, swelling, firmness

 and pocket depth . 

2) Dental X-rays -to check for bone loss in areas where your dentist sees deeper pockets

3)Checking records of your dental and medical history

 Checking records of your dental and medical history and conditions that may contribute to your symptoms. 

4) Examination of your teeth, gums, mouth and tongue 

for signs of plaque and inflammation.

Treatment of Gingivitis-

1) Improving dental hygiene-

Treatment involves professional cleaning as well as oral rinses. 

• Scaling is done as it removes tartar above and below the gum line.
• Root planing smoothes rough spots and removes plaque and tartar from the root surface.

2) self care-

a) Good oral hygiene. That means brushing your teeth for two minutes at least twice daily — in the morning and before going to bed — and flossing at least once a year

• b) Regular checkups with a dentist are also important. A dentist is able to remove plaque and calculus (hardened plaque) that is too dense to be removed by a toothbrush or dental floss.
• c) Once a dentist removes plaque, regular brushing and flossing will minimize plaque formation. 
• Dental defects, such as over contoured or poorly fitting fillings, crowns, and other restorations should be corrected. 

3) Medications-

• Antiseptic Mouthwash- containing chlorhexidine can be used to disinfect the mouth.
• To treat inflammation antibiotics to be used. 
• Antibiotic like Doxycycline, can help keep enzymes from causing tooth damage.