What helps with inflammation of the gums?

introduction

Inflammation of the gums (Latin: gingivitis) is a disease that occurs frequently in Central Europe and which is noticeable through the development of inflammatory processes in the area of ​​the gums and the occurrence of bleeding gums.

Read more on the topic: Inflammation of the gums - how to identify and treat

Depending on the severity of the gingivitis, it can be brought back under control with improved oral hygiene and dental care.

therapy

Improved oral hygiene and dental care

The most important point in the treatment of gingivitis is the implementation of regular and, above all, proper oral hygiene. Teeth should be thoroughly cleaned at least two, if not three times a day.

Ideally, you should brush your teeth 30 minutes after each meal. This enormously reduces the bacterial colonization within the oral cavity and in the course of this leads to a reduction in the inflammatory processes in the gum tissue. In addition to cleaning the tooth surfaces, the main thing is to take care of the interdental spaces (Interdental spaces) not to be neglected. At least once a day these must be freed from deposits with the help of so-called interdental brushes or dental floss.

With regard to oral care, it should be noted that there is no toothbrushing technique that is suitable for every patient without exception. Misaligned teeth, large spaces between the teeth or enormous receding gums make a special brushing technique necessary.
Various home remedies can have a preventative effect in addition to dental care.

In the course of treatment, the dentist usually instructs the patient concerned about a suitable toothbrushing technique. Furthermore, if there is an inflammation of the gums, further treatment measures must be carried out in the dental practice.

Read more on the topic: dental care

Professional tooth cleaning

Professional tooth cleaning (short: PCR) has long been part of the standard in the treatment of gingivitis. This treatment is usually not covered by statutory health insurances. The costs, which are primarily based on the number of teeth in the jaw and the duration of the treatment, must therefore be borne by the patient. However, there are also health insurance companies that at least partially cover the therapy costs.

If a professional teeth cleaning is necessary, it is always worthwhile to contact the responsible health insurance company. The price of a professional teeth cleaning fluctuates extremely strongly from practice to practice. On average, the costs are between 70 and 150 euros.
The process of this measure in the treatment of gingivitis is generally always very similar. The treating dentist cleans the surface of the tooth, the gum line and the upper parts of possible gum pockets.

In the course of this, every single tooth is examined from all sides with special instruments (curettage) departed. Thanks to an individual bevel that is adapted to the shape of the tooth, which differs from curette to curette, the instruments are capable of both soft (Plaque), as well as hard (tartar) deposits from the tooth surface. Treating gingivitis is usually not painful. However, if the patient expresses pain during therapy, more extensive teeth cleaning can be carried out under local anesthesia. To relieve the pain, the patient can be prescribed an anesthetic ointment (Dynexan® oral gel).

In many dental practices, teeth are cleaned using a so-called air-flow device. From a technical point of view, however, this method is more than questionable. Small cleaning particles from the Air-Flow device can roughen the tooth surface, lead to micro-cracks and thus create new dirt niches.

Afterwards, bacterial pathogens can easily attach themselves to the damaged areas. To this day, many patients do not take gingivitis seriously and do not see a dentist if they have bleeding gums.

In view of the fact that an untreated gingivitis leads to the development of periodontitis and damage to the jawbone over a longer period of time, targeted treatment should be initiated at an early stage. In the worst case, if the appropriate treatment is neglected, the affected patients can expect rapidly progressive bone decline and the loss of otherwise perfectly healthy teeth.

Read more on the topic: Professional tooth cleaning

Summary

The term “gingivitis” (gingivitis) is understood to mean inflammation of the gums caused by the harmful effects of bacteria without impairing the gums. The main causes of inflammation of the gums include poor oral hygiene and irregular check-ups at the dentist.

Symptoms of such a condition include bleeding gums, redness, swelling, and slight pain when brushing your teeth.

Many patients wonder what to do if they have gingivitis. First and foremost, a dentist should be consulted urgently, because one that has not been treated for a long time Gingivitis In the worst case, it can spread to the jaw and lead to bone decline and tooth loss. A so-called periodontal disease develops, which requires much more extensive treatment.

In addition to carrying out a professional teeth cleaning, the treating dentist will advise the patient on what to do next.

The patient himself can have a positive influence on the course of the disease by carefully practicing oral hygiene.