Gum Sores and Gingivitis

If you discover gum sores, you can usually count on other problems hiding in mouth crevasses and on your gums and teeth. Gum sores may be a sign you have gum disease. If you notice the problem immediately, you may be able to avoid the serious consequences of lost and damaged teeth. Talk to your dentist immediately. You may be fortunate. He or she may confirm you are only in the early stage of gum disease – gingivitis.

What is Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is an irritation or swelling of the gums. Another name for gingivitis is bleeding gums, indicating one of the symptoms of the problem. Gingivitis gets its name from the term gingivitia. This is the gum tissue. Gingivitis affects this more than any other part of the mouth.

The Causes of Gingivitis
The major causes of this problem are bacteria. Bacteria build up after food particles, left behind from poor oral hygiene, create the perfect environment. Bacteria feed on the food bits. This allows them to multiply. With multiplication comes tissue damage.

Symptoms of Gingivitis
The early symptoms of gingivitis may not be obvious. Some people ignore them, believing them to be “normal.” Others do not pay attention because the signs may not be present all the time. It is not a good idea to ignore any indications of problems in your mouth.

Become aware of any abnormality. If you fail to notice these problems lurking in the corners of your mouth and beneath the surface of your gums, gingivitis may progress to become the serious form of gum disease – periodontitis. While there is a cure for gingivitis, you can only remedy periodontitis.

Be aware of the following signs of gum disease.

• Mouth and/or gum sores
• Bleeding gums
• Gums lose their pale pink or coral pink color becoming a shiny red
• Gums are tender upon touch
• Swollen gums
• Bad breath

Treatment
If you suspect gingivitis, contact your dentist immediately. You will need to go for an examination. The dentist will then arrange to clean your teeth. Afterwards, he or she will recommend a preventive measure.

The best preventive remedy for gum sores and gingivitis is to adopt a good oral hygiene system. Such a system consists of these basic steps:

• Brush at least twice a day using a soft-bristle toothbrush and quality toothpaste. Options include both brand name commercial products, and all-natural ones, such as baking soda and OraMD.
• Rinse following brushing and flossing. Use an alcohol-free mouthwash or an all-natural substance such as water, salt and water, or multitalented OraMD. Avoid overuse of mouthwash as it can result in sensitive gums.
• Floss twice a day, minimum.

Conclusion
If you truly want to avoid treatment for gum sores and gum disease, you need to be proactive. Prevention is always better than searching for a cure or remedy. The best preventive measure is to adopt a regular practice of oral hygiene. Doing so will help you to avoid a visit to your dentist for anything but your annual check-up or cleaning.