Do you have gingivitis (inflammation/ infection of your gums)? Did you know that not treating it leads to periodontitis?

Periodontitis is the #1 cause of tooth loss in adults. When your teeth become inflamed, a gap between your teeth and gums can develop, which eventually fills up with both plaque and tartar. As the tissue becomes damaged, teeth loosen.

In a nutshell, here’s the difference of how a healthy gum looks vs. a not-so-healthy or a seriously-in-trouble gum.

• Healthy gums: firm, no bleeding— and they fit snugly around your teeth

• Gingivitis: mildly inflamed gums with some redness or swollen—may bleed with brushing

• Periodontitis: gums recede/separate from teeth—plaque transitions toward roots

• Advanced periodontitis: bone and fiber support are demolished— teeth are either loose or need to be extracted

What to look for.

• Do you have frequent breath odor?

• Are your gums shiny, bright red or red-purple in appearance?

• When you touch your gums, do you experience pain?

• Are you losing teeth?

• Are your gums swollen?

• When you brush your teeth gently, do they bleed?

What to do.

You should have your teeth professionally cleaned. Additionally, you must practice a good oral hygiene regime in your day-today life, for the rest of your life.

Follow the advice of your dentist.

But what therapy is better?

Per work published in the 2008 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, fullmouth scaling, full-mouth disinfection and quadrant scaling prove equally good treatment for adult chronic periodontitis.

• A full-mouth approach seeks to eliminate/reduce pathogenic bacteria in all areas of your mouth that could cause re-infection to treated areas.

• Between full-mouth scaling and full-mouth disinfection, your preference and schedule are the biggest determining factors of which treatment you should choose