Gingivitis:
What it is - What causes it - What to do about it

What is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is medically classified as an inflammation of the gums, but it can lead to more serious gum conditions and should be treated promptly and effectively at the first sign in order to prevent any further complications. That's because gingivitis is an entry level form of periodontal disease, which attacks the gum tissue and eventually works its way to the jaw bone and causes permanent damage including loss of teeth.

Signs of gingivitis

Gingivitis is relatively easy to diagnose on your own, as the warning signs are very visibly evident. If you suffer from gingivitis, some of the warning signs are:

• Bleeding gums
• Bright red or purple appearance to gums
• Gums that are tender when touched
• Mouth sores
• Swollen gums
• Shiny appearance to gums

If you suspect that you have gingivitis, the first thing you should do is examine your current oral hygiene regiment, and see if it is up to par for treating gingivitis. Typically, gingivitis is caused by bacteria buildup in the mouth that goes untreated. The good thing about bacteria buildup in the mouth is that it's easy to treat - if you have the right plan in place

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Progression of gingivitis

Dangers of gingivitis

If gingivitis goes untreated, it can lead to a number of other oral infections and conditions including:

While all these diseases can be very serious, the good news is that gingivitis is relatively easy to treat. If gingivitis is taken care of in a timely manner, it could mean hundreds of dollars in savings on dental procedures to help correct the more serious diseases that gingivitis can lead to.

What causes gingivitis?

As mentioned earlier, gingivitis is caused by a bacterial buildup, but it is not the bacteria directly that cause the problem.

Regardless of what you do, bacteria are constantly forming in your mouth. It is an unavoidable truth - your mouth will ALWAYS have bacteria in it. However, when you do not take the proper measures to take care of your mouth, an excess of bad bacteria accumulate in your mouth.

This leads to plaque buildup. Plaque is the accumulation of tiny food particles, particularly sugars, and the excess bad bacteria in the mouth. The particles act as food for the bacteria, and this is what creates the white, sticky substance you know as plaque.

Plaque is the major cause of tooth decay. If left unattended, the plaque will eventually harden, and transform into what's known as tartar.

Both plaque and tartar are known to inflame the gums, causing gingivitis. Gingivitis is a precursor to gum disease and periodontal disease, though it can be prevented naturally

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Preventing and Treating Gingivitis - Fight Bad Bacteria - in 4 Easy Steps

The single best way to prevent and treat gingivitis is to use an effective daily oral hygiene program, using 100% pure botanical products, thereby keeping the harmful oral bacteria at bay.

	Brush twice a day in the morning and evening using 2-5 drops of a botanical toothpaste on a toothbrush and brush normally.
	Floss every evening before brushing - more frequently as needed. Get any food particles out from between teeth.
	Use a botanical mouthwash twice a day: morning and evening. Just put 2-5 drops into an ounce of water, swish and gargle. This is important to kill the bacteria in the entire mouth including the back of the tongue.
	Mid-morning, mid-afternoon and as needed: put 2-5 drops of natural botanicals on the tip of the tongue to coat the gum line and teeth to kill bacteria and keep breath fresh.

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