Since healthy gums don’t bleed so any sign of bleeding, swelling, or soreness of gums refers to a disease named Gingivitis or Periodontitis, the alternate names of gum disease caused by a bacterial infection. Although itching gums can refer to the possibility of a number of different diseases as allergies, dental aging, gum diseases, hormonal changes, and more, still gingivitis becomes the primary concern to be suspected. The prime importance for the health of teeth is dedicated to healthy gums that are the delicate tissues providing protection to the teeth, roots, nerves, and teeth.
Periodontitis or gingivitis caused by the accumulated bacteria on teeth and gums is a serious infection of gums. The bacteria are naturally present on gums and teeth but the real game starts when the number of bacteria increases diagrammatically due to any underlying problem. Gingivitis proves to be a major cause of tooth loss in adults especially. There are certain stages of periodontitis classified on the basis of severity and condition. These stages are:
The very first alarming stage is the bleeding of gums while brushing your teeth or flossing them. The reason behind may vary a lot from hormonal changes to dental caries or any other. Plaque is the discoloration of teeth that may occur due to the buildup of bacteria and food debris on teeth for a long. Plaque is attributed to be the biggest reason for the development of gingivitis. Calculus is the hardened plaque deposited on teeth and causes bleeding.
Major alarming symptoms are:
Pulling away of gums or receding from teeth or formation of small pockets between gums and teeth indicate the initial periodontitis. Harmful bacteria gets accumulated in the pockets. The immune system of the body reacts against the infection to fight off the effects and thus the gums start to recede. Bleeding during brushing or flossing or bone loss is the outcomes of the fight.
Progression of the disease from the initial stage of slight bleeding to more severe bleeding during brushing or flossing indicates the second stage of periodontitis that is moderate periodontitis. Teeth slowly start losing the bone support and become shaky with slight use. Inflammation occurs almost in the full mouth as a reaction to the bacterial effects by the immune system of the body.
Deterioration and destruction of all the supporting materials of the teeth as gums, bones, connective tissues, and other tissues is a major intimation of advanced periodontitis. Foul taste, bad breath, pain while chewing, every other day inflamed condition with severe pain are the outcomes giving you a clear sign of losing your teeth soon.
Although it seems quite normal that anyone complains about gum bleeding while brushing teeth or anyone feels coldness in teeth while drinking icy water or taking ice cream. There may be a number of contributing reasons behind the bleeding gums and depending upon the severity of the disease, the progression of the diseased condition can be assessed by the dentist only. The bacterial growth in the mouth which if increases beyond the specific amount causes inflammation and bleeding gums. Debris of all the eaten material starts accumulating in the gums space when the gums start receding in effect to fight off the bacterial attack as a response of the immune system of the body. Eventual damage of teeth occurs leading to the ultimate loss of the precious tooth. The contributing factors for the inevitable loss may include plaque formation, hormonal disturbance, any underlying illness, medications as antibiotics, family history of bleeding gums, long term use of icy cold objects, poor hygienic care, use of a hard toothbrush, not brushing or flossing teeth regularly, etc.
The possible causes of gingivitis may be:
An increased intake of antibiotics as penicillins, fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, or macrolides for the long term may weaken the base of teeth. An imbalance of the natural minerals and chemicals in the body as calcium, iron, potassium, and many more as an aftermath of the use of the antibiotic creates disaster for teeth and slow deterioration of the associated tissues creates gingivitis.
The increased need for minerals and structural and functional units of teeth and bones that is calcium needs to be taken in as an additional supplement to compensate for the loss. Any discrepancy in the supplemental delivery of these materials causes deprivation of the required amount necessary for the healthy growth of bacteria in teeth and mouth. Thus bleeding gums, inflammation, soreness, and many other symptoms start appearing and give rise to gingivitis and periodontitis.
If diabetes occurs in juvenile age or remains uncontrolled at any stage the ultimate effect is on all the vital organs of the body. The balance of natural bacteria in the mouth gets disturbed and opens the gate for the growth of an abnormal amount of bacteria ultimately creating bleeding gums and receding gums.
The reaction of the immune system of the body to protect the teeth is represented by the receding gums which try to protect all the roots, nerves, and bones related to teeth in case of any bacterial overgrowth attack. Once the deprivation of food or any other disease condition weakens the immune system of the body, the teeth become deprived of the insightful force to protect them.
Malnourishment may cause the weakened immune system that prompts the imbalance of minerals, vitamins, and hormones ultimately making teeth prone to deposit of plaque and abnormalities contributing to gingivitis.
Monthly periods, menopause, stress levels, work alcoholics, sleep disorders and several mental and physical situations provoke the immune system imbalance and disturb the normal bacterial growth of the mouth.
The injuries or trauma of the gums can cause pain, discomfort, and itching. The gum injuries might be due to a physical injury or a chemical one. The physical injury may be due to an accident or by playing a sport or any behavioral injury. Bruxism is the teeth grinding that causes headaches, jaw pains, itchy gums, irritated gums. Long term use of E-cigarettes and vaping can also cause gum injuries.
A colorless sticky material forms a thin coating or film of plaque that gets accumulated over a large time. Plaque overgrowth occurs due to the mixing of bacteria and food. Over course of time, plaque creates gum disease along with other symptoms as bleeding while brushing and itching gums.
Certain types of food, medicines, seeds, pets, seasons as pollen grains, hay fever, certain flavors, juices, certain toothpaste, create allergic reactions which are followed by itchy gums and bleeding.
The natural moisture in the mouth is regulated by your mouth all the time. Sometimes adverse effects of certain medications or certain medical conditions keep the mouth dry for long enough by blocking saliva secretion which leads to dry mouth leading to itchy gums.
Dentures, partials, and braces are used for certain problems of teeth. Sometimes there is a gap between gums and these devices that leads to the accumulation of bacteria, food, or other particles in these gaps that create long-term issues of plaque and gingivitis.
If you eat all food healthy but that is deficient in certain vitamins like vitamin A, K, or C then the gums start bleeding creating space for the development of gingivitis.
There are a large number of signs and symptoms depending upon the stage and condition of disease as initial, moderate or long term. The symptoms develop slowly indicating some underlying disease or some ongoing local issue.
Sometimes you are able to treat the gum bleeding and plaque neutralization by using home-made mouthwashes and preventive measures to inhibit the overgrowth of bacteria in mouth. Few over-the-counter drugs and antibiotics are needed if the stage develops from initial gingivitis to advanced periodontitis.
Antibiotics are used for severe cases of gingivitis as acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis to get rid of all the pain and adverse effects. Amoxcillin or metronidazole are recommended generally, taken usually for three to five days. If the patient is allergic to penicillin then amoxicillin is not suitable. The antibiotic course treats the underlying infection of bacteria neutralizing all plaque and tartar surrounding the teeth, gums and the infection spread deep into tissues. Any observed side effects associated with the use of antibiotics can be nausea, vomit, diarrhea and motion sickness.
Ibuprofen and paracetamol are the mlost commonly used and prescribed painkillers for immediate treatment of pain associated with dental issues. These are over-the-counter drugs available from pharmacies. They help reduce the pain and discomfort. But precautions must be taken and you must seek medical advice from your dentist to avoid any detrimental effects.
It is very necessary to start treatment of periodontitis or gingivitis as soon as possible. Once you leave it untreated then the plaque becomes tartar and then the real problem begins. The deposit of calculus and these materials in the teeth and gums give away to multiple growths of bacterial cells to a level when gingivitis occurs. If you begin home treatment at an early age then it is quite possible to treat the gingivitis, otherwise once converted to advanced periodontitis.
All the medicines, either over-the-counter or home remedies for yourself, must be taken with precautions and after seeking medical advice by the practitioner if the pregnant or breastfeeding mother gets infected with the disease. If severe bleeding or foul-smelling continues after the use of home remedies then immediately must consult a medical practitioner to seek advice. Some of the most popular home remedies and other products used for natural treatment of gingivitis are as follows:
Considerable options before starting any medication:
Proper care and hygienic maintenance is the first line treatment option for treatment of gingivitis. If not taken proper care, then it would be impossible to treat gingivitis with home remedies.
Avoid gingivitis at first hand:
Although proper care and hygienic maintenance is the first-line treatment option for the treatment of gingivitis, after proper assessment of teeth conditions, saltwater rinsing can be used as a second-line treatment option.
Salt-water treatment for gingivitis: Salt is a natural disinfectant that helps your body to heal your teeth themselves. Mixing of half spoon of salt in warm water and rinsing mouth by it three to four times a day gives positive effects. So, the salt water rinsing helps a lot to recover and soothe the gingivitis. Salt water rinsing affects positively on teeth as long as you use it for short term. By long term use, the enamel of teeth gets affected. Generally salt water rinsing soothes the gums as:
If salt water rinsing doesn’t soothe the teeth properly, then the third line option of mouthwash can be used to treat gingivitis. But mouthwashes should never be swallowed rather it should be spitted out immediately after rinsing in the mouth. Although mouthwashes are available in the market but still home made mouthwashes must be tried first. Some of these are:
Lemongrass oil mouthwash: An effective treatment for gingivitis to remove plaque and level of destruction of teeth and gums is the lemongrass oil that is even comparatively more effective than chlorhexidine mouthwash. Diluting three to four drops of lemongrass oil in a cup of water and is rinsed in the mouth for thirty seconds to revolve all the solution to affect all corners of mouth. The solution must be spitted out then immediately without engulfing and the procedure may be repeated two to three times a day. Generally its very safe to use the lemongrass oil mouthwash but it’s a real potent mouthwash so it must be used with precaution to avoid any irritation.
Aloe vera mouthwash: Chlorhexidine and aloe vera mouthwash are equally effective to reduce plaque and gingivitis. The major advantage is that aloe vera doesn’t need to be diluted but still it needs to be purified to hundred percent before use to avoid any side effects. The aloe vera mouthwash should be spitted after thirty seconds to make full use of its positive effects and should be repeatedly used for three to four times a day. If any previous history of allergy pertains for the aloe vera or if you feel allergic to it after use, don’t use it again.
Tea Tree Oil Mouthwash: A promising mouthwash to treat gingivitis is the tea tree oil mouthwash. Three to four drops of mouthwash are mixed in a cup of warm water. The solution must be swished in mouth for thirty seconds and then spitted out immediately without engulfing. The procedure must be repeated two to three times daily to treat gingivitis. A drop of oil can be added to your toothpaste while brudhing your teeth as it will heal the bleeding gums faster than ever. The tea tree oil when used for the first time must be diluted to avoid any allergic reaction, rash or burning. Sometimes the tea tree oil can have a reaction with certain medications, specific dietary supplements or herbs so special care must be taken for using it with a gap of thirty minutes with any other intake.
Sage Mouthwash: A very potent yet delicate mouthwash is sage mouthwash that has been proven to be able to lower the number of bacteria in mouth that become the reason of development of dental plaque. The sage leaves has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help to heal the swollen and bleeding gums. Moreover, the time limit in which it can be used easily without creating any allergic reaction or irritation in mouth is believed to be more than sixty seconds that is an ideal time to get rid of deposited tartar and gingival bacteria causing bleeding gums. The sage mouthwash is prepared by adding two tablespoons of fresh sage or one teaspoon of dried sage to two cups of boiled water which may be allowed to simmer for five to ten minutes. The ingredients of sage get dissolved in boiled water completely in this time. It may then be strained and let be cooled for few minutes. The solution may be rinsed for sixty seconds in the mouth to remove bacterial deposit and be repeated two to three times per day to get the desired results.
Guava Mouthwash: An effective treatment for local management of oral hygienic conditions is guava mouthwash. The widespread plaque has been found to be effectively controlled by the anti-microbial properties of guava leaf mouthwash. It reduces gum inflammation significantly, relieving the pain and refreshing the foul breath. To prepare the homemade fresh guava mouthwash, the guava leaves in amounts of five to six are crushed with mortar and pestle to the finest particles. These are allowed to simmer in a cup of boiling water for fifteen to twenty minutes. After getting cooled, a small amount of salt is added to it, the mouthwash is swished in the mouth for twenty-five to thirty seconds. Without engulfing even a drop, the swished solution spits out of the mouth and the procedure may be repeated two to three times daily until you get rid of bleeding gums.
One of the baseline treatments used for plaque and gingivitis for thousands of years has been the oil pulling treatment in Ayurvedic medicines. The oil pulling treatment involves the swishing of oil in your mouth for twenty to thirty seconds to get rid of all the deposited bacteria and to eliminate any toxins present in the mouth providing overall wellness in the mouth and improve the general oral health. Oil pulling is gaining great publicity and awareness in the local public for its outstanding properties to get rid of bleeding gums and many other oral issues. The most famous oil pulling used are:
Coconut Oil Pulling: A highly effective property attributed to the coconut oil pulling is its ability to cause anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects through lauric acid present in highly significant amount in the coconut oil. The use of coconut oil for pulling reduces plaque and signs of gingivitis to a great extent. It helps to whiten the teeth, freshen breath while at the same time it also relieves headache and tension clearing the sinuses from any infectious material. The coconut oil pulling is carried out by placing one to two teaspoonful of fractionated coconut oil into your mouth. It may be swished around your mouth for twenty five to thirty minutes keeping watch on the oil not to touch the back of your throat. Once it has rinsed thoroughly in due time, it may be spitted out. Your mouth must be rinsed with water later and spit out the water twice. Drinking a full glass of water later and brushing your teeth will remove any oily feeling in mouth yet taking full advantage of coconut oil pulling to remove toxins and plaque from your mouth. Although it is quite safe to swish oil in mouth but still care must be taken not to swallow the liquid at any cost as it would contain all the toxins and bacteria pulled out from tissues of your mouth. The sessions of swishing coconut oil can be divided into two halves for easy swishing and initial use to let the mouth become use to the oily taste.
Arimedadi oil pulling: Another famous name for oil pulling is Arimedadi oil pulling which is known for its quality to inhibit the growth of plaque and improve the symptoms of gingivitis. The Arimedadi oil is used to strengthen the gums and teeth, reduce the swelling in mouth and heal mouth sores and blisters relieving pain to a great extent. The Arimedadi oil is taken into mouth as one or two tablespoons that is swished around mouth for twenty to thirty minutes. The oil must not be allowed to touch the back of throat while keeping it swishing around. It must be spitted out after required time. You must rinse mouth thoroughly with water followed by drinking a full glass of water and brushing your teeth for freshening up. The Arimedadi oil may enhance the chances of sinusitis so must avoid its use if any symptoms occur.
Applying any gel or cream may become beneficial for gingivitis or bleeding gums if mouthwashes also not work according to the expectations. Of many gels and creams, the turmeric and cove applications have been proved to be the most beneficial ones.
Clove Application: Since ancient times, the clove directly in raw from has been used by the sufferers at home to get rid of the plaque and inflammation in mouth which may have been rendering severe pain in tooth or molar.The clove seeds have potential to prevent plaque and reduce inflammation. The effect is attributed to the anti-viral and anti-oxidant properties of the clove seeds. They are applied topically in severe pain by mincing a teaspoon full. A damp cotton ball is dipped into the minced cloves to allow maximum to get attached. And then it is rubbed gently on your aching gums. Cloves must be allowed to sit on the tooth and gums for about more than a minute followed by swishing water around mouth to collect all cloves spitting all water out later. It cannot be used in large quantity for long periods of time, yet it is an immediate available solution for severe toothache midnight.
Turmeric Gel Application: Turmeric is famous and used for thousands of years to cure internal injuries and healing powers. The turmeric gel is considered to prevent plaque and gingivitis efficiently due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It has anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties. It helps to heal bleeding and reddened gums. An active ingredient of turmeric, curcumin is the real magic in the healing powers of turmeric so the curcuma gel or turmeric gel is applied for effective treatment of bleeding gums and plaque removal. The gel is applied on teeth after brushing them properly and rinsing too. The gel must be stayed on gums for ten or fifteen minutes which is later swished around mouth to collect all the gel. The water must be spitted out and the procedure can be repeated twice a day if you don’t have any allergic reactions to the use of turmeric.
Debridement or root planning is required sometimes if the tartar has developed in case of severe gingivitis or periodontitis. A local anesthetic is required to numb the area before the procedure. It is a deep cleansing procedure that clears the gums and under teeth from debris and deposit.
A rise in the hormone progesterone contributing to the increase in the flow of blood to gums and tissues surrounding the teeth making them extra sensitive, swollen, inflamed and sometimes bleed too while brushing or flossing. These hormonal ups and downs during pregnancy make a smooth pace for gingivitis-causing bacteria to grow in large amount and providing extra tenderness to them. This all increase in sensitivity gives rise to pregnancy gingivitis. Although pregnancy gingivitis may occur at any time during pregnancy but the most severe infection may occur during the second trimester. A soft tooth brush must be used for brushing your teeth while they are extra sensitive due to pregnancy. An anti-gingivitis toothpaste and mouthwash must be used twice a day. A healthy and balance nutritious dietary protocol must be followed to supplement the discrepancy of calcium, phosphorus, vitamins and proteins.
A bacteria-filled sticky film that surrounds the teeth and becomes the main reason for development of gingivitis is the plaque formation that causes serious damage to teeth and gums. A sugary snack, a meal high in acidic material and other food release acids that kill the tooth’s natural enamel must be avoided or if eaten then teeth must be brushed and flossed immediately to avoid deposit on teeth. There a number of foods or items of food listed below that must be avoided to get rid of plaque formation:
Sour candies: A number of different kinds of acids are present in the sour candies. These candies are chewy and stick to teeth for long time. The long term sticking cause decay of teeth and gums. A square of chocolate instead of craving sweets is much more preferable for teeth.
Bread: Chewing of bread causes saliva breakdown the starches into sugar. The bread sticks to the cervices between teeth when transformed into a gummy-like paste. Aim for less refined varieties like whole wheat whenever you crave for carbohydrates. These refined varieties contain less added sugars and get easily broken.
Water intake: Teeth need saliva to stay healthy which becomes extinct in dry mouth. Saliva prevents food from sticking to your teeth and keeps particles away from teeth. The presence of saliva helps repair early signs of gum diseases, oral infections and decay. Mouth must be kept hydrated by taking large intake of water and using fluoride rinses and oral rehydration solutions.
Carbonated drinks: Intake of large quantities of carbonated sodas makes teeth more prone to be attacked by acids of the drinks that get triggered by more plaque formation too. The intake of carbonated sodas is equally damaging to teeth as methamphetamine and cocaine. Teeth become coated in acid by sipping soda all day and it dries the mouth depriving it of saliva. Dark-colored sodas discolor teeth and stain the teeth badly. So the carbonated drinks must be avoided.
Ice chewing: We take ice use and ice chewing easy and flexible thinking that it is water only. But chewing such a hard substance though a water crystal, it’s a hell for enamel of tooth that is a delicate material and this ice chewing habit make you susceptible to dental emergencies as chipped, cracked or broken teeth or at the maximum loosened crowns too. Ice-chilled beverages or slush can be used to compensate the taste but direct ice chewing creates havoc for teeth. Opt for chilled water to resist the urge.
Citrus fruits and drinks: Citrus containing fruits as lemon, grapefruits, oranges are all tasty as when engulfed as fruits or juices. These gifts are a great source of vitamin C.But the high acid content of these juices make your teeth vulnerable to decay since the acid erodes enamel of tooth. Squeezing a lemon or lime in water adds acid to the drink. The acid becomes bothersome to mouth sores. Rinsing your mouth later with water after taking the juices or drinking them in moderate amounts can fulfil the need of vitamina and anti-oxidants in your body.
A great craving-potato chips: Either children or elders, the crunch of potato chips is equally satisfying to many of them. But the potato chips are a great starch source that is converted into sugar which gets trapped in between the teeth and becomes a full time food to the bacteria present in the mouth. The tapped particles must be flossed out to get rid of the lingering source of plaque development.
Sugary dried fruits intake: A healthy snack for daily evening is a dried fruit. But choice of dried fruit is a great indication of gaining health or inviting plaque formation tools. Few of the dried fruits as apricots, prunes, raisins, figs are sticky. They get stuck and clingy in cavities of teeth and spaces available between teeth and gums leaving lot of sugar behind. Instead fresh fruits must be made more preferable to avoid such things. If still want to satisfy the taste buds with the dried fruit, then must brush and floss later on to clean teeth properly of sticky substance.
The inflammatory diseases affecting the periodontium is periodontitis. Periodontium is the group of tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. It can cause severity as loss of bones around teeth and may be a great cause of loosening and sometimes loss of teeth. Poor dentition, poor hygienic maintenance of teeth, careless attitude towards a great blessing, and many other ignored precautionary measures and sometimes the genetic makeuo defect can cause excessive overgrowth in the periodontal tissues. The bosy’s immune system gets activated once the normal residing bacteria of mouth get abnormal in amount and fight with these bacteria.
The most highlighting indications and signs of periodontitis and gingivitis are bleeding of the gums while brushing your teeth, gums redness or swelling, bad breath, gums recession, or loose teeth. Generaaly gum disease is a silent killer and it is not painful to create disharmony in patient’s daily routine but sometimes people feel a lot of discomfort while taking hot or cold items in mouth as ice or tea or coffee sip.
So the real concern is about whether the gum disease can become so severe to become the leading cause of death of anyone. The bacteria from gum diseases can travel through the blood stream and can get lodged in any vital organ of body creating a serious condition known as abscess.
These bacteria can sometimes travel and become clingy to heart or heart valves leading to a highly dangerous disease the bacterial endocarditis. It can kill any person and it is a great link to underweight born babies, diabetes, chronic lung disease etc. Regular appointments with dentist and maintenance of proper hygienic conditions can keep you healthy and fully satisfied with teeth.
Scientists in a short span of time have developed quite useful links and reasons of concern between plaque formation on teeth and overall declining health of people. The sticky substance that becomes clingy to our teeth while not taking proper care of teeth is the bacteria that becomes multiplied several times in mouth and helps in developing plaque formation around teeth and gums leading to a number of concerns as enamel loss, discoloration, bleeding of gums, soreness of gums, tooth loosening and ultimate loss. Looking a simple series of effects sometime sgrows to a number of complex situations affecting other parts of the body and becoming a great concern for overall health status of patient. Here is a brief overview of link between plaque formation and its concwern with different other health issues:
Many studies have defined a great concern between the conditions of gums and development of healthy heart tissues. The people with gum diseases are found to have poor heart health sometimes getting severity of heart attacks. The cardiologists are made learn to inquire their patients about any lingering gum disease problems. The family history of dental issues and heart attacks form a great link to be undertaken as a source of early adaptation to heart disease by next generation.
Diabetes becomes the leading and most underlying disease that creates silent destruction of many vital organs of the body if left uncontrolled. The diabetic patient becomes vulnerable to gum diseases to maximum limit than any other person since inflammation is to be blamed. The diabetics are most likely to acquire infections in all vulnerable parts of the body including gums. If you are able to control the diabetes level on daily basis then the risk lowers but cannot diminish. But if left uncontrolled then it becomes a havoc and becomes a great risk for teeth and gums to be disrupted.
Later in life the lingering gum diseases become a great concern for dementia too. Periodontal problems and diseases become associated with milder cognitive impairments as memory loss or memory disturbance. Daily routine life gets badly affected by such losses. Memory test scores and other recent examinations of brain impairment have shown a great concern between gum diseases and brain impairment.
An autoimmune disease marked by inflammation and painful disease is the rheumatoid arthritis. People with rheumatoid arthritis are most likely to develop periodontal diseases and they have reported more missing teeth than people who don’t have rheumatoid arthritis. Chronic inflammation is the primary factor in both diseases. The people who get treated for their periodontal diseases treated face less severity of symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis as pain, swelling and soreness.
Conflicting results appear on the link between periodontal diseases and preterm birth. Some women are more likely to deliver baby before due date as a premature one who are suffering from gum diseases which sets up baby for great health concern. Treating periodontal diseases in pregnant women make them more risk free, healthy and less likely to deliver premature babies when their periodontal diseases are treated before thirty fifth week
Immune system fights the infection in mouth due to gum disease and makes body weaker. This makes it easier to become prone to development of respiratory illnesses as pneumonia and bronchitis. The concern is especially fatal to patients that are young or more old and proper monitoring must be carried out for such people.
A number of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria are involved to develop gingivitis and periodontitis. Some of these are:
Gingivitis and periodontitis are very common and related to our lifestyles mostly. Natural bacterial flora of oral parts as well as other parts of the body must be allowed to develop and maintained in a normal balance not to allow the optimal environment to prevail for the development of gingivitis.
Along with following the hygienic conditions and amicable safety measures, there are a number of ways we can adapt in our lifestyle to avoid the occurrence of gingivitis. These include:
