Gingivitis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the gums. The disease can develop in several forms. Most often, this disease can be observed in children, pregnant women and young people under 35 years of age. Acute gingivitis has symptoms, upon detection of which it is necessary to undergo a course of treatment in order to avoid more serious consequences. To prevent this disease, doctors recommend regularly visiting a periodontist, brushing your teeth, and when the first signs appear (redness, bleeding), make an appointment with a specialist.
What causes gingivitis?
There are two types of causes of this disease: general and local. The former include such deviations as a decrease in the level of immunity, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, diabetes mellitus, and various kinds of allergies.
Local causes include poor oral hygiene, the presence of tartar, radiation damage, injuries and burns, bad habits in the form of smoking. Most of the situations associated with the appearance of gingivitis are due to the lack of smoothness on the surface of the teeth. That is, due tonon-compliance with the rules of hygiene, plaque appears, which subsequently turns into tartar. These issues need to be fixed as soon as possible. To clean the surface of the teeth from unwanted microorganisms, it is recommended to treat with ultrasonic devices.
The main thing is to remember to brush your teeth individually and do it right. The process should not last less than three minutes. Teeth should be brushed twice a day: in the morning after breakfast and in the evening before bed. It is recommended that you change your toothbrush at least once every three months. For those who forget to do this, there are special brushes with colored bristles that discolor over time. The use of dental rinses is encouraged.
Signs of gingivitis
The disease most often affects young people. They have the weakest gums and are therefore susceptible to inflammation. The main symptoms are bleeding gums, the absence or presence of a false periodontal pocket.
The general well-being of a person practically does not change, the presence of these signs indicates non-compliance with oral hygiene. Gingivitis is characterized by swelling of the gums, painful sensation when brushing teeth, bleeding, redness, bad breath.
Acute gingivitis
The causes of this disease can be very diverse: from temperature and infectious effects to allergic factors. Acute gingivitis can occur with the flu, measles, and otherdiseases. Failure to follow the rules of hygiene negatively affects the immunity of the oral cavity, which leads to inflammation of the gums.
In children, weak immunity is observed until the age of 6-7, and only at 14-15 does its final formation begin. Therefore, the risk of gingivitis is higher. It is very important to teach a child to observe oral hygiene from an early age so that it becomes a habit and there are no unpleasant situations in the future. Defects in fillings, the presence of caries, the accumulation of microorganisms lead to the occurrence of acute gingivitis. Symptoms of this disease:
- sharp pain in the gums;
- swelling and bleeding;
- expansion of plaque, in addition to all teeth, it also covers the gums;
- body temperature increased;
- headache, weakness and inexplicable fatigue of the body.
Chronic gingivitis
The chronic form in terms of occurrence does not differ from the acute one. A feature is the long and viscous course of the disease. There are three types of chronic gingivitis: catarrhal, atrophic and hypertrophic.
Catarrhal gingivitis occurs periodically and is characterized by redness and swelling of the gums. Possible damage to the marginal gingiva and interdental papillae.
Hypertrophic gingivitis is an enlargement of the papillae that form a false periodontal pocket. The main symptoms of the disease are bleeding and pain when eating. Any of these forms can go into atrophic, in which the gum decreases in size andbecomes very thin.
Atrophic gingivitis is a very dangerous type of disease that can trigger other ailments. Due to the thinness of the gums, it is easy to damage and even break. For the oral cavity, one of the most dangerous diseases is acute and chronic gingivitis. The symptoms of the latter are expressed as follows:
- itching and burning in the gums, which intensifies in the process of brushing your teeth;
- high bleeding;
- increase in interdental papillae.
Catarrhal form of acute gingivitis
Acute catarrhal gingivitis is an inflammatory process occurring in the gum tissue. This form of gingivitis is not prone to relapse, but if treatment is not started on time, it can develop into more serious diseases. This type of gingivitis is most common in children and adolescents.
This disease can occur due to malocclusion, incorrect dental treatment, the presence of stone, plaque or caries. Acute gingivitis is easy to detect by its symptoms: severe swelling of the gums, bad breath, bleeding. The treatment of this ailment involves getting rid of already existing inflammations and the causes that caused them.
Ulcerative form
Acute ulcerative gingivitis is a type of disease characterized by the formation of pustules on the edge of the gums. This disease occurs due to the parasitism of the oral cavity of microbes and bacteria. Microorganisms become especially active during a period of weakened immunity. This form of the disease candevelop into a more serious one: Vincent's acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. It is practically untreatable and in some cases fatal.
Acute ulcerative gingivitis has the following symptoms:
- sharp pain in the gums;
- bleeding when brushing teeth;
- bad breath;
- apathy, unwillingness to eat and weakness in the body.
These symptoms are similar to those found in the early stages of necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. In any case, when the first signs appear, you should consult a specialist. Depending on the severity of the disease, treatment methods will differ.
Ulcer-necrotic form of gingivitis
Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis is the most dangerous form of the disease. It is characterized not just by inflammation and redness of the gums, but by its death. Ulcerative necrotic gingivitis occurs when fusobacteria parasitize in the oral cavity. Also, this form of the disease can be the result of neglect of catarrhal gingivitis. In addition, the ulcerative necrotic form of the disease contributes to the development of other ailments, such as stomatitis or periodontitis.
Disease symptoms:
- severe pain in the gums at the slightest touch;
- swelling and severe redness of the gums;
- uncontrolled bleeding;
- plaque on damaged areas of the gums;
- pungent breath.
Acute gingivitis is treated withthe use of anesthesia. This will help to reduce or completely get rid of pain during the operation.
Causes of acute gingivitis in childhood
Children are most susceptible to this disease. It can be caused by both external and internal causes. The first group includes injuries received in the process of teething. Also, due to the habit of most children to taste everything, an infection can get into the oral cavity, which will lead to gingivitis.
In addition, the external factors include a poorly delivered seal that does not meet certain requirements. Children often get sick, and any infectious disease can cause an acute form of gingivitis.
Among the internal causes are a decrease in immunity, an insufficient amount of vitamins in the child's body, and an incorrect structure of the tooth. Acute gingivitis in children can be expressed both as an independent disease and as an additional ailment.
Types of gingivitis in children
Depending on how severe the inflammation of the gums is in the child, catarrhal, hypertrophic and ulcerative-necrotic types of the disease are distinguished, each of which is expressed in acute or chronic form.
It is easy to identify acute gingivitis in a child. The clinic of this disease is quite pronounced. The child sleeps little and poorly, his appetite disappears. Bleeding, a large amount of plaque, as well as inflammation of the gums will leave no doubt about what kind of ailment the baby develops.
The most common type of gingivitis is hypertrophic. It is characterized by pain in the gums and bleeding. Symptoms usually go away after puberty. Catarrhal gingivitis is also quite common. It is manifested by inflammation of the gums and a sharp smell from the mouth. Dental plaque builds up, children feel unwell, fever rises.
The most severe and therefore rarest form is necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. It is characterized by the presence of gray ulcers, putrid odor from the mouth. The dentist can diagnose this disease during a routine examination and prescribe a course of therapy.
Treatment of acute gingivitis
The form of treatment for this disease depends on the cause and severity. In any case, it must be comprehensive in order to eliminate all factors of the disease. If gingivitis occurs due to sharp edges of the filling, it is necessary to apply the correction of prostheses.
Prolonged use of antibiotics adversely affects the microflora of the oral cavity, and therefore acute gingivitis can occur. Treatment in this case is prescribed by an immunologist. Independent intervention in these matters without consulting a specialist is strictly prohibited.
If the patient came with the problem of acute catarrhal gingivitis, then the doctor should direct the course of therapy to eliminate negative factors and normalize the body. In this case, the dentist will teach you how to properly brush your teeth individually, as well as treat with an antiseptic and apply a special ointment.
The treatment of gingivitis in adults and children is almost the same. Only in childhood, the use of antiseptics and proper oral hygiene become the solution to all problems. If there are dental deposits or stones, then the dentist will remove them using a special apparatus. It is recommended to carry out deep fluoridation of teeth. Children themselves at home can rinse their mouths with a 0.06% solution of Chlorhexidine.
Prevention of acute gingivitis
In order to prevent the occurrence of the disease, it is necessary to regularly fulfill two conditions: to observe personal oral hygiene and visit the dentist. Brushing your teeth should be done at least twice a day, and the choice of brush and paste should be taken seriously. In order not to be mistaken, you need to consult with your dentist.
As for visiting a doctor, the recommended frequency is twice a year. Each visit to the dentist must be backed up by professional cleaning of the teeth, which will help get rid of plaque and other deposits.
Conclusion
One of the most common diseases of the oral cavity is currently acute gingivitis. What is this disease? It is an inflammation of the gums of varying complexity. There are many forms and types of acute gingivitis. Children and young people under the age of 35 are most susceptible to this disease.
Pregnancy can also affect the occurrence of gingivitis. This disease can be prevented by following the rules of prevention.diseases. Personal hygiene is the most important of them. Everyone, regardless of age and occupation, should make it a rule to brush their teeth twice a day. This procedure will help protect the patient from unwanted infections and diseases, as well as maintain fresh breath.
