Have I got gum disease?

Question

I have had braces for about 2 months and my gums are bleeding in the corner of 2 teeth when I brush them. Also around the teeth a tiny bit if gum is coming a way from the tooth when I brush them. I try to brush my teeth as well as I can and 3 times aday. have I got gum disease and if yes can I treat it by myself??

Answer 1

Gum disease, or Periodontal disease has several stages, it sounds like you are at the beginning, or Gingivitis. Your gum tissue will be puffy, red, and may bleed.



I suggest if you aren't already doing it, you should get real serious about flossing. It is the only way to get under gum tissue and remove bacteria. It is a MAJOR ordeal with braces, but well worth the effort.



I also suggest, if you aren't already, seeing your Dental Hygienist every four months while in braces. She/he will be able to help remove the subgingival calculus (hardened bavteria) and keep your gums happy.



When you are brushing, you can irritate and erode the gums with too much pressure. Periodontists I have worked with recommend holding your toothbrush like a pencil to control the pressure.



(I am a Registered/Certified Dental Assistant with 15 years experience, and am working on a degree in Dental Hygiene).

Answer 2

If you have had fixed braces for 2 months, and you have just noticed your gums bleeding a little in a couple of spots, then what you have got is some inflammation of the gum tissue, caused by missing those spots when cleaning your teeth.



There are a couple of things you can do; first, get a sonic toothbrush such as an Oral B Pulsonic. Then, you have to hold the brush head gently against each tooth for at least 10 seconds PER TOOTH. That feels like a really long time when you're doing it, but that's how long it takes for the brush to shift the plaque off the teeth. Remember, powered brushes are NOT faster, but they CAN BE more effective if you go really slowly and allow them enough time to work properly.



Next, you should get some dental floss threaders, and get your dental hygienist to show you how to thread floss between your teeth, around the wires of your braces. This will remove the plaque between your teeth that the brush can't get to.



It's all going to take 15 - 20 minutes every day to do this properly, but it's well worth doing if you want to have healthy teeth when your braces come off.



Good luck!



You might get some additional useful information from the link below.



Richard from dental-health-advice.com

Answer 3

The symptoms of gum disease include, but are not limited to:



• Bleeding while brushing or flossing



• Swollen or tender gums



• Persistent bad breath



• Pus between teeth/gums



Smoking and poor oral hygiene increase the risk of developing gum

diseases. If you have gum disease avoid smoking and

brush your teeth for two to three minutes twice a day

Answer 4

you can brush too much,especially if you have a hard brush,use a soft brush and brush morning and evening,blood is not always a bad sign,especially if you are flossing or if your brace is rubbing.Gum disease is quite rare in younger people,it usually affects the more mature.

Answer 5

Probably but go get checked in case

Answer 6

If you don’t know too much about gingivitis, don’t feel bad.

A recent poll showed that 60% of adults know little about gum disease, its symptoms, causes, treatments and consequences.

Gingivitis, the top dental problem for people over 18, is the mildest form of gum disease. This early stage of gum disease develops when bacteria build up between the gums (gingiva) and the base of the teeth they surround.

Gingivitis is usually caused by the improper cleaning of teeth.

If you’ve only got gingivitis, consider yourself lucky. Gingivitis acts as an early warning signal that you could be heading for serious dental health problems. In fact, Gingivitis is the baby brother of Periodontitis. (inflammation around the tooth) This more severe form of gum disease is usually connected with loss of teeth.



What Symptoms does Gingivitis present?



Here’s the good news. Most symptoms are mild:

• Gums are moderately inflamed

• Gums are sensitive to touch

• Gums bleed easily while brushing, flossing, or probing

• Gums might itch

• Bad breath might be present

Now, the bad news. Most symptoms are mild.

Because Gingivitis symptoms are easy to ignore people often do just that. Many gingivitis patients don’t even know they have Gingivitis because they have no obvious symptoms. As a result, their disease can progress silently to the more serious dental disease, Periodontitis, without warning.

How Do You Get Gingivitis?

Teeth and gums need to be kept clean.

While heredity and other medical factors can influence the development of Gingivitis, the major cause is poor oral hygiene. Food trapped under the gums combines with bacteria to create plaque, a “toxic stew” that irritates the gums and makes them bleed. This colorless film of sticky material containing food particles, bacteria, and saliva attaches itself to the tooth above and below the gum line encouraging Gingivitis and tooth decay.

Then plaque, the “toxic stew,” hardens into tartar (calculus) in just 24 hours. Each day this “contaminated crust” grows. That’s why you need to remove plaque every day no matter what. Only a dental professional can remove tartar.



Why Should You Worry About Gingivitis?

Untreated, Gingivitis leads to periodontitis. Gingivitis can mean minor blood loss; Periodontitis can mean major tooth loss.

Evidence is mounting of potential links between Gingivitis and more serious health concerns. Healthy immune systems normally fight off the bacteria developing in the mouth. When this protection is compromised in any way, the added bacteria in the bloodstream appear to increase the risk of stroke or heart disease.

Remember, it’s not what Gingivitis is but what it leads to – irreversible Periodontitis and likely tooth loss.



How Do You Find Out if You Have Gingivitis?

Visit your dentist twice a year. During the exam, your gums will be assessed for Gingivitis - bleeding, swelling, and firmness. In addition, your dental professional will check plaque and tartar build-up above and below the gum line.



What Gingivitis Treatments Are Available?

Early Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and regular oral care at home. The dentist or hygienist will probably help reduce the current buildup of tartar by scaling the teeth. Scaling removes tartar and plaque from the surface of the infected teeth.

Reversing Gingivitis is all about daily plaque control – essentially sound oral hygiene. That means, in most cases, stopping the plaque in your mouth is really in your own hands. Brush every day.

Dental professionals recommend oral irrigation as a great way to really clean teeth and gums.

Brushing and flossing will not get under the gums where the bacteria have set up housekeeping.

Oral irrigators get what tooth brushes and floss don’t, so plaque and tartar never come back.

Oral irrigators flood the mouth with a jet of water under pressure to flush offending food particles and bacteria from the mouth.

Oral irrigators can now be found that attach to your showerhead or you bathroom sink faucet and are very easy to use.

IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

Waterpik - 800-525-2020 http://www.waterpik.com/dentalcare/

Conair - 800-633-6363 http://www.conair.com/

Oral Breeze – 800-524-6548 http://www.OralBreeze.com

Braun Oral-B - 800-272-8611 www.oralb.com

Hydro Floss -800-635-3594http://www.hydrofloss.com/

Panasonic - 800-338-0552 http://www.panasonic.com

Oxyfresh – 800-333-7374 http://www.oxyfreshww.com

Oratec – 800-368-3529 https://www.oratec.net/