Subscribe
Gingivitis
Prevention and Treatment of Gingivitis and Periodontitis
Gingivitis is a common type of oral inflammation. If not promptly stopped or controlled, it can progress to periodontitis. Therefore, it's recommended that patients pay close attention to oral hygiene and dietary habits when experiencing oral inflammation. If a patient has gingivitis, taking some anti-inflammatory medication appropriately can effectively control the inflammation and alleviate symptoms like swelling and pain. Moreover, if a patient develops periodontitis, it is crucial to seek timely medical attention and adopt corresponding treatment measures to control the progression of the inflammation. For patients with periodontitis and gingivitis, daily dietary habits are extremely important. It is advised that patients maintain proper oral hygiene habits, brush teeth morning and evening, and rinse mouth after meals. Additionally, patients should adopt a light diet, consume more fresh vegetables and fruits, and drink plenty of water.
What should I do if my gums are blistering from gingivitis?
When gingivitis results in some blistering, the patient can frequently rinse their mouth. After rinsing, it is appropriate to spray some oral inflammation spray on the gums locally, which can help in anti-inflammatory treatment and repair the blisters. Additionally, the patient can take some anti-inflammatory medications orally to treat the symptoms of gingivitis, which can effectively alleviate the inflammation. Regarding diet, the patient should also pay attention to eating light, avoiding spicy and irritating foods, adjust their lifestyle and drink more water. Locally, it's important to maintain oral hygiene, rinse mouth promptly after meals to remove food residues and prevent bacterial infection, and develop correct brushing habits. Moreover, it is suggested that patients should have their teeth cleaned regularly every year to prevent recurrent attacks of gingivitis.
Is it serious if gingivitis persists and doesn't improve?
When suffering from gingivitis, it is still recommended that patients receive proactive treatment. If gingivitis does not improve, it may develop into chronic gingivitis, leading to further progression of conditions such as periodontitis and root inflammation, and potentially resulting in the formation of gingival fistulas. Therefore, it is advised that patients treat the condition properly. When suffering from gingivitis, it is appropriate to take some oral medications for anti-inflammatory treatment. Additionally, dietary habits play a crucial role. For example, it is important for patients to eat a light diet and avoid spicy and irritating foods. It is essential to rinse the mouth after meals to promptly remove food residues. Regular dental cleaning can effectively remove tartar and dental plaque, which plays a vital role in oral care.
Can gingivitis be treated by rinsing with salt water?
When suffering from gingivitis, it is appropriate to use some light saltwater for rinsing, but it is recommended that patients purchase more professional mouthwash for rinsing. This is because some specialized mouthwashes contain medicinal ingredients that can effectively control the bacteria in the mouth and have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. They can remove some oral bacteria and food residues, so it is advised that patients use mouthwash. Additionally, when patients experience gingivitis, while mouthwash is one aspect, the main focus should still be on anti-inflammatory treatment. Appropriate oral intake of anti-inflammatory drugs can have an effective treatment impact, such as commonly used drugs against anaerobic bacteria combined with some antibiotics, which can provide effective treatment.
What is the difference between gum swelling and pain due to "heatiness" and gingivitis?
Swollen and painful gums due to "heatiness" is also a type of gingivitis, which encompasses a range of conditions. It is essentially a general term for inflammation of the gums. Therefore, it is recommended that patients should distinguish the cause, as "heatiness" can lead to symptoms like swollen and painful gums. In such cases, patients can clear the "heat" by taking some herbal medicines or teas that reduce "heatiness," drinking more water, and adjusting their diet, which generally can provide quick relief. If a patient has poor oral hygiene, such as a lot of dental plaque or tartar on their teeth, this can continuously irritate the gums and cause chronic gingivitis, leading to pain. The medications used in these cases are generally similar, thus patients do not need to be overly anxious. Appropriate use of drugs like periodontal health supplements or artificial bezoar metronidazole can effectively reduce inflammation and relieve pain. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)
How long does it take for gingivitis to heal after a dental cleaning?
When a patient has gingivitis, generally, dental cleaning can reduce some of the inflammatory irritation. However, there is no specific time frame for how long it will take to recover from gingivitis solely through dental cleaning. If a patient has gingivitis, it is still advisable to use some medications, such as oral anti-inflammatory drugs. For example, antibacterial drugs against anaerobic bacteria like metronidazole, tinidazole, or ornidazole, can be combined with some antibiotics, commonly amoxicillin or cephalosporins, or erythromycin. Additionally, patients must pay attention to oral hygiene, rinse their mouths promptly after meals, brush their teeth morning and night, and cultivate correct dietary habits. It is important to avoid spicy and overly hard foods in the diet. Furthermore, patients should ensure to eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits and schedule regular teeth cleanings to reduce the irritation caused by gingivitis.
What is the difference between periodontitis and gingivitis?
Gingivitis is a condition that is limited to the gum tissues, whereas periodontitis not only affects the gum tissues but also damages the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Gingivitis merely involves inflammation of the gum tissues, displaying redness and swelling, as well as changes in the shape, color, and texture of the gums, including bleeding, hypertrophy, and a soft texture. Periodontitis involves not only inflammation of the gums but also leads to attachment loss, formation of periodontal pockets, resorption of the alveolar bone, and loosening or loss of teeth. Gingivitis does not involve bone resorption. In periodontitis, X-rays can show a reduced height of the alveolar ridge, presenting as either horizontal or vertical resorption. For the treatment of gingivitis, supragingival cleaning can completely cure it, allowing gum tissues to return to normal. The treatment of periodontitis, in addition to supragingival cleaning, requires subgingival scaling, root planing, and, when necessary, periodontal surgery to control inflammation, as the resorption of alveolar bone is irreversible.
Can you drink alcohol with gingivitis?
When a patient has gingivitis, we generally advise against drinking alcohol. This is to prevent the aggravation of gingivitis when consuming alcohol, as it can exacerbate the condition. During gingivitis, the gums are in an inflamed state and are particularly sensitive to external irritants. Therefore, it is crucial for patients with gingivitis to maintain oral hygiene. In terms of diet, it is essential to eat light and avoid spicy, irritating foods as well as overly hard or hot foods. It is important to adopt the correct way of brushing teeth daily, remove food residues from the mouth promptly after meals, and brush teeth morning and evening. Additionally, patients should have their teeth cleaned professionally once a year, which can effectively remove tartar and dental plaque, benefiting the health of the gums.
Can gingivitis heal on its own?
Generally, when suffering from gingivitis, if the patient does not take some corresponding measures, recovery is generally difficult, requires a longer time, and the chances of full recovery are relatively small. Therefore, when suffering from gingivitis, it is essential for patients to take appropriate measures to aid the recovery of gingivitis. Special attention should be paid to oral hygiene, making sure to rinse the mouth in time after meals, brush teeth morning and evening, and possibly get regular dental cleanings, which can effectively remove dental plaque and calculus, alleviating gum irritation. Additionally, patients should pay attention to their daily diet and lifestyle; avoid overeating and abstaining from spicy, irritating foods, as well as frequent smoking, drinking alcohol, and staying up late. Moreover, when suffering from gingivitis, patients can appropriately take some anti-inflammatory medications, which can effectively aid in the recovery of gingivitis.
What should I do if gingivitis causes facial swelling?
Some patients with severe gum swelling and pain may also experience inflammation and pain in nearby soft tissues, such as facial swelling and pain, which are also common. In such cases, patients can take some anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications for treatment, which can effectively relieve the symptoms of gum swelling and pain. If the gum swelling and pain are alleviated, the facial swelling will also subside, so it is recommended that patients treat it with medications in a timely manner. Additionally, it is essential for patients to maintain oral hygiene, develop correct brushing habits, have regular dental cleanings, pay attention to the method of brushing, and persist in brushing their teeth morning and night, spending three to five minutes each time. Furthermore, patients can appropriately supplement some nutrients to help boost their immunity.