Gingivitis - symptoms and treatment
Gingivitis is an inflammatory process that only affects the gums. The ligaments of the tooth and bone tissue are not affected. Gingivitis is widespread, affecting 80% of schoolchildren and 100% of the adult population. In childhood, gingivitis is diagnosed no more than 30% of cases.
Poor oral care is the main cause of gingivitis. The inflammation is often asymptomatic. Its manifestation is bleeding gums. First, the papilla of the gum becomes inflamed, and then its other parts. The disease quickly becomes chronic. From time to time, the pathology worsens, after which it dies down.
The microbes that colonize the oral cavity are aggressive in nature. Therefore, in patients with gingivitis, the likelihood of heart muscle damage and diabetes mellitus increases by 25-50%. Gingivitis during pregnancy can cause early labor.
Depending on the form of the disease, gingivitis can be catarrhal, ulcerative and hypertrophic.
Content:
- Gingivitis reasons
- Gingivitis symptoms
- Diagnosis of gingivitis
- Gingivitis treatment
- Home treatment for gingivitis
- Prevention of gingivitis
Gingivitis reasons
Gingivitis is provoked by bacteria that actively multiply in dental plaque. In order for them to begin to increase their numbers, certain pathological factors are required. It has been proven that if there are no bacteria on the gums, then gingivitis in a person does not develop under any circumstances.
Mechanical damage to the gums leading to gingivitis:
- Anatomical abnormalities, for example, an irregular tooth shape, malocclusion, too close teeth, etc.
- Presence of tartar. In it, not only bacteria actively multiply, the stone is an obstacle to high-quality teeth cleaning.
- The resulting injury to the gums while brushing teeth, or in case of accidental damage.
- Changes in the composition of saliva.
In addition, gingivitis can appear as a result of incorrect manipulations by the doctor:
- Injuries to the gums during dental treatment.
- Incorrectly placed seal. In such places, bacteria multiply especially actively.
- Wearing removable dentures, under which plaque accumulates. It can also damage the gums.
- Construction of bridges. With such constructions, it will be especially difficult to care for the gums.
- Operations performed in the oral cavity.
- Wearing orthodontic appliances to straighten teeth. They complicate oral care.
It was found that men develop pathology more often than women. The disease is more severe in African Americans. The socio-economic status of the patient is also important.
Causes of gingivitis in pregnant women
In pregnant women, gingivitis is also caused by bacteria in plaque. In the body of the expectant mother, hormonal changes occur, the work of all internal organs changes. Therefore, almost 100% of pregnant women develop gingivitis.
Gums under the influence of estrogen and progesterone become soft and loose, so they are easier to injure. The very composition of the microbial flora in the mouth is changing, since instead of the usual nutrients, bacteria begin to use female hormones.
Causes of gingivitis in children
Gingivitis in children develops due to microbes that live in plaque. However, it accumulates due to the fact that the processes of self-cleaning of teeth are often disrupted.
There may be several reasons for this:
- Earlier extraction of milk teeth.
- Treatment by an orthodontist.
- Disturbances in the structure of the frenulum of the lips and tongue.
- Too viscous saliva due to the use of soft foods and sweets.
- Chewing gum.
- Violation of the process of swallowing food, breathing through the mouth.
- Caries, pulpitis.
- Pathology of the salivary glands.
Gingivitis symptoms
Depending on the form of gingivitis, the symptoms will differ. You can notice them yourself, but you should not forget about regular visits to the dentist.
Catarrhal gingivitis symptoms
As practice shows, catarrhal gingivitis develops in almost 100% of patients with gastroenterological pathologies.
| Acute catarrhal gingivitis | Chronic catarrhal gingivitis | |
| Development reasons | The acute phase of chronic diseases or recent infections. |
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| Symptoms that the patient notices | The gums begin to bleed, the blood appears just like that, without mechanical effect on the gums. The person is in pain. |
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| Dental signs |
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| Differential diagnosis | Disease must be distinguished from hypertrophic and drug-induced gingivitis |
The disease must be distinguished from periodontitis in which a pocket is formed in the gum, the bony partitions between the teeth decrease, and they themselves become mobile. From lichen planus, which is characterized by itching and burning of the gums, as well as pain when touched. With lichen, all the mucous membranes of the oral cavity suffer. |
Ulcerative gingivitis symptoms
It was found that with atypical premenstrual syndrome in women, ulcerative gingivitis develops.
| Causes of the peptic ulcer |
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| Symptoms that bother a person |
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| Dental signs |
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| Differential diagnosis | It is necessary to distinguish gingivitis from acute leukemia, which is manifested by blanching of the oral cavity lining, tissue necrosis and changes in blood composition. Ulcerative gingivitis should also be distinguished from syphilis. With this disease, ulcers and other defects of the mucous membranes will not hurt. |
Symptoms of hypertrophic gingivitis
Hypertrophic gingivitis can be fibrosis or edematous. Most often, this pathology manifests itself in people with vitamin A deficiency.
| Edematous gingivitis | Fibrous gingivitis | |
| The reasons |
Irritation of the gums, for example from fillings or dental restorations. |
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| Symptoms that the patient notices | The gums become larger and look unattractive. Gums bleed and hurt when pressed. | The gum does not bleed, but its appearance changes for the worse. |
| Dental signs | Plaque on teeth, teeth too close, deep bite. Gums red, swollen, bleeding, and sore. | The teeth are not positioned correctly in the mouth, too close, which leads to problems with dental hygiene. The gingival papillae begin to grow, the gums become pale in color, do not swell or bleed when pressed. |
| Differential diagnosis | It is necessary to distinguish gingivitis from fibromatosis, in which the entire gum suffers, along with the bone. You also need to carry out differential diagnosis with blood diseases, which lead to characteristic changes in the analyzes. | |
Diagnosis of gingivitis
The patient with gingivitis is examined. The doctor specifies how long ago he had the first symptoms of discomfort.
Examination of the oral cavity involves the following activities:
- Evaluation of bite, lip frenulum, mucous membranes.
- Evaluation of the condition of the palate, cheeks, pharynx, tongue.
- Assessment of the condition of teeth, the presence of caries, calculus, soft plaque, pulpitis.
- Assessment of the color and structure of the gums, determination of bleeding, the presence of purulent lesions.
After such an examination, the doctor can assess the severity of the pathology.
If necessary, the doctor will refer the patient for additional examination.
It can include:
- Radiography. This method distinguishes gingivitis from periodontitis.
- Blood donation for general analysis. The study allows to assess the state of health in general and to clarify the absence of blood diseases.
- Blood for biochemical analysis. This study provides information about diabetes.
- Donating blood for HIV and syphilis.
- Microbiological study to clarify the representatives of the bacterial flora living in the oral cavity.
Gingivitis treatment
To cope with gingivitis, you need to consider various factors, ranging from the severity of the inflammation and the stage of development of the disease.
Treatment of the chronic form
- The patient should be explained how to properly care for the oral cavity, how to brush your teeth, etc.
- The doctor conducts professional oral hygiene, removes not only soft, but also hard plaque.
- The patient is prescribed antiseptics, ointments, relieving inflammation, rinses and gels.
- To improve overall immunity, vitamins should be taken, as well as medications that increase the blood supply to the gums.
- All diseased teeth should be treated.
- If there are defects in the bite, it is necessary to correct it.
Acute treatment
Acute gingivitis requires relief of pathological symptoms. For this, the patient is prescribed antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. When the swelling has passed, the patient is treated according to a scheme similar to that for treating a chronic form of the disease.
You can use an irrigator to massage the gums. This allows you to quickly cope with inflammation, remove plaque and increase blood circulation in the problem area. This procedure can be done at home.
Ulcerative form treatment
- Antiseptic treatment of the oral cavity. Since ulcers cause pain to a person, they must first be numbed.
- Then, enzymatic preparations are applied to the ulcer defects, the ulcers are cleaned.
- The antibiotic of choice is Metronidazole. It is used for local therapy.
- After the ulcers begin to heal, you can use drugs that accelerate tissue regeneration. It can be vitamins A and E, sea buckthorn oil.
- Sometimes an antibiotic is given by mouth. All the same Metronidazole is used.
- The patient is prescribed drugs that relieve inflammation and allergy medications.
- It is possible to use immunomodulators and vitamin complexes.
- After the gums have healed, the person will need to heal all the aching teeth.
Treatment of the hypertrophic form
The therapy is carried out according to a scheme similar to that for the treatment of catarrhal gingivitis. However, the patient may need to surgically remove the overgrown gum tissue. This can only be done after all diseased teeth have been treated.
If a patient is diagnosed with leukemia, then the treatment of the gums is exclusively symptomatic, the patient is not prescribed an operation.
Treatment during pregnancy
Topical treatment for gingivitis during pregnancy is similar to that for normal patients with the same problem, but antibiotics and other medications are not taken by mouth. If it is impossible to refuse oral therapy, then a preliminary consultation with a gynecologist is required.
Scientists continue to search for effective drugs to treat gingivitis in pregnant women. So, in 2007, it was found that a warm compress with Mexidol and paraffin, which is applied to the gums, has a good effect. You can also brush your teeth with a paste with Mexidol and use a mouthwash with the same substance.
In 2012, it was established that Vulnuzan ointment can be used during pregnancy.
It is important to protect the gums from mechanical injury, to stop eating harsh foods.
Treatment of gingivitis in children
To cope with gingivitis in a child, you need to teach him how to properly care for the oral cavity. In order to assess the degree of teeth cleaning, special dyes are used. When the disease is severe, treatment for ulcerative gingivitis in adult patients is required.
It is important to correct the bite as well as other orthodontic problems. The child should eat right, often in the fresh air.
Home treatment for gingivitis
To cope with catarrhal gingivitis at home, you can use the ROCS series toothpaste. Well eliminate bleeding gums paste Forest Balsam, Paradontax, Lacalut. You can also use Asepta gel and gum balm.
You need to brush your teeth efficiently, using dental floss. You can rinse your mouth with a shepherd's bag, sage or chamomile decoction.
When a person develops mild ulcerative gingivitis, but there is no way to visit a doctor, you can use the following recommendations:
- Drink as much water as possible, follow a diet.
- To take orally drugs: Metronidazole (0.5 g 2 times a day), Aspirin (0.5 g 3 times a day), Diphenhydramine (0.05 g 2 times a day).
- Irrigate with Chlorhexidine or Miramistin.
- Metrogil Dent gel is applied to the cleaned gums. This treatment is carried out at least 5 times a day.
- In the intervals between the main treatment, the mouth is rinsed with decoctions of chamomile and sage.
- When the painful sensations become less intense, Carotenol, Solcoseryl, rosehip or sea buckthorn oil are applied to the gums.
Prevention of gingivitis
To prevent the development of gingivitis, you need to properly sanitize the oral cavity, brush your teeth correctly and visit your dentist regularly. Professional cleaning should be done at least 2 times a year.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
