Oral care involves more than just brushing one’s teeth. It is also important that we take extra care to keep our teeth healthy. When your teeth bleed or become inflamed due to gingivitis, a condition occurs that should be addressed as soon as possible.
Once you begin taking care of your teeth, it’s important that you do so consistently, otherwise your teeth will not have time to recuperate, and the condition can become a disease.
Gum bleeding occurs to many when they brush their teeth. This can seem insignificant, however you may actually be experiencing major problems with your teeth. This aggravates if time passes and nothing is done to fix the problem, and even more so when this occurs to children.
It is mistakenly believed that we should not give much importance to baby teeth because these will eventually disappear. However, it is important to have a good dental health from an early age so that when permanent teeth come they are strong and healthy.
When gums bleed, swell or become red, it may indicate the presence of a disease called gingivitis, which is the first stage of another disease known as periodontitis. Do not think that children and adolescents are safe to this, as many have this condition. Gingivitis arises both in the young and adults, mainly due to poor oral hygiene, but there are other factors that increase the chances of developing the condition such as:
- Malnutrition
- Stress
- Being diabetic or having some generalized infection.
- Smoking, taking drugs or taking certain medications
- Experiencing hormonal changes such as puberty and pregnancy.
Periodontal disease occurs when gingivitis is not treated. It usually occurs in adults and may be:
- Localized aggressive: It mainly affects the first molars and front teeth. This is characterized by severe loss of alveolar bone, which supports the teeth, with very little dental plaque or calculus.
- Generalized Aggressive: is characterized by inflammation of the gums and heavy accumulations of plaque and tartar. Over time can cause teeth to become loose.
- Associated with a systemic disease (generalized), such as diabetes and Down syndrome.
The most important signs that indicate you may have periodontal disease are:
- Bleeding gums when brushing
- Swelling and redness of the gums.
- Gums that recede and reveal the roots of the teeth.
- Constant bad breath that does not go away when brushing.
Have you noticed some of the symptoms in yourself? It’s best to prevent the situation or try to stop it. You can do so by maintaining good oral hygiene practices and by making regular visits to the dentist. Remember to:
- Brush your teeth preferably after each meal, and at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
- Use thread or floss at least once a day
- Limit sugary foods between meals as well as drinks with caffeine and alcohol.
- Avoid smoking or chewing snuff.
- Visit your dentist regularly (at least once or twice a year).
As you can see, it is not so complicated. You just need to have good habits, and to pass them onto your children.