The treatment for gingivitis must be done in the dentist's office and involves the removal of bacterial plaques and hygiene of the mouth. At home, it is also possible to treat gingivitis, and tooth brushing is recommended, using a soft bristle brush, toothpaste for sensitive teeth and floss daily. Thus, it is possible to eliminate excess bacteria in the mouth and fight gingivitis.
When the gum is bleeding you should rinse your mouth with a little cold water to stop the bleeding, but it is essential to carry out the treatment to fight gingivitis and prevent the gum from bleeding again.
If the person continues to feel dirty teeth or if small bacterial plaques are observed on their teeth, they can use a mouthwash with chlorhexidine, which can be purchased at the pharmacy or supermarket.
However, when the accumulation of bacteria gives rise to a large hardened bacterial plaque, called tartar, which is between the teeth and the gum, it is necessary to go to the dentist to clean the teeth, because only with its removal the gums will deflate and stop bleeding.
How is the treatment of gingivitis
Treatment for gingivitis is usually done at the dentist's office:
1. Carefully observe the inside of the mouth
This can be done using a small mirror to see the deep teeth or a small camera that can reach places where the mirror cannot. This is to observe if there are dark spots, holes, stains, broken teeth and the state of the gums in each location.
2. Scrape the plaque that has accumulated on the teeth
After observing the hardened plaque, the dentist will remove it using specific instruments that scrape all the tartar, keeping the teeth properly clean. Some people may feel uncomfortable with the sound of the braces used by the dentist, but this treatment does not cause any pain or discomfort.
In the most severe cases, when the plaque is very deep, it may be necessary to have dental surgery for its complete removal.
3. Apply fluoride
Then the dentist can apply a layer of fluoride and will show you how daily oral hygiene should be and if necessary you can start other necessary treatments, to remove teeth or treat cavities, for example.
See how to brush your teeth to prevent and treat gingivitis
Medications may be needed to treat scaly gingivitis, which usually happens due to other associated diseases like pemphigus or lichen planus. In this case, corticosteroids in the form of an ointment may be an effective solution, but the dentist may also recommend other anti-inflammatory drugs for oral use.
Complications of gingivitis
The biggest complication that gingivitis can cause is the development of another disease called periodontitis, which is when plaque has advanced to deeper parts of the gum, affecting the bones that hold the teeth. As a consequence of this, the teeth are separated, soft and fall, and it is not always possible to place a dental implant or use dentures.
Gingivitis has a cure?
The treatment cures gingivitis, but to prevent it from reoccurring it is necessary to avoid factors that favor its onset, such as:
- Stop smoking; Do not breathe through your mouth; Brush your teeth correctly, at least twice a day; Use dental floss regularly; Always use chlorhexidine-based mouthwash before bed; Avoid foods that accumulate in your mouth, such as chocolate, cashew nuts, popcorn or foods with a lot of sugar.
In the most severe cases, such as necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, it is also recommended to consult the dentist, every 6 months, so that he can clean his teeth and prescribe a remedy for gingivitis, such as antibiotic toothpaste, for oral hygiene at home..
The routine consultation with the dentist should take place at least once a year, but in case of gingivitis it may be more sensible to return every 6 months to make sure that there is no accumulation of tartar on the teeth.
See in the video below more about gingivitis and how to treat and prevent it:
