Healthy gums are pale pink, have a harmonic wave profile, and sit tight and “dynamic” against the tooth. Food and plaque can be removed easily. Sick and inflamed gums, on the other hand, are dark red, bleed easily and sometimes carry unpleasant smells. If the teeth and gums are not cleaned regularly, gingivitis occurs. The slightly inflamed gingival margin dissolves from the tooth. The plaque between the gum and tooth also becomes difficult to remove.
Oral mucosal diseases
Inflammatory changes of the oral mucosa consist of:
* Acute inflammatory gingivitis
* The trigger for this is bacterial plaque; the gums are slightly red and swollen, hardly hurts and are prone to bleeding. Bacteria secrete substances (endotoxins) that can penetrate the mucosa. The body reacts with certain neurotransmitters as an immune response and inflammation soon follows. A thorough and disciplined oral hygiene is needed because removing the plaque which is responsible for the acute gingivitis is vital for good oral health. But there are also mechanical, chemical or thermal stimuli that may trigger this disease. Keep in mind that strong brushing with a hard toothbrush can cause swelling and inflammation of the gums too.
* Chronic gingivitis
* Chronic gingivitis develops usually from the acute form, with approximately 90% of adults being affected. This severe form of inflammation is reflected by increased bleeding tendency and often bleeding gums when touched lightly. Chronic gingivitis often appears with a large amount of tartar. Calcified and hard deposits lead to a permanent mechanical irritation of the gums.
* Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
* This is a special form of acute gingivitis and is mainly caused by pathogens. The disease is not contagious, and most young people are not affected. ANUG (acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis) begins abruptly with marked inflammation. Affected suffer from high fever, severe halitosis, pain and fatigue.
Hormone-induced gingivitis
* This usually occurs during puberty and pregnancy. Often, it is also associated with certain prescriptions. However, the timing carries the same factors as in acute and chronic inflammation of the gums; they are amplified by hormonal effects. With good dental care prevention is definitely possible.
Seeing your local dentist in Providence RI, for the above issues is a great idea. You only get one set of permanent teeth, and losing them to something that can be prevented is not a good thing. Consult your dentist for more details.
