What causes gingivitis?

Now you know what gingivitis is, it’s time to understand the causes of inflamed gums:¹

1. The main cause of gingivitis is bacterial plaque. Poor oral hygiene leads to the build-up of plaque, and if this plaque is not dealt with effectively it can lead to both tartar and the irritation of your gums subsequently causing gingivitis.
   
   
2. Mechanical strains can contribute to causing swollen gums around your tooth. From toothpicks to hard food components as well as over-aggressive toothbrushing, there are a number of ways you can put strain on the area around your gums.
   
   
3. Viral or fungal infections can also lead to inflamed gums. Illnesses such as diabetes¹, herpes, and cold sores³, when left untreated, can, unfortunately, lead to gingivitis. If you believe you have an infection, it is important to seek medical attention from your doctor.
   
   
4. Smoking is not just bad for your lung health; it can also lead to gingivitis.⁴ The fact that smoking cigarettes, cigars, and pipes are bad for you is not new information, but did you know it can cause inflamed gums? Smoking causes you to produce more plaque which as you now know is the leading cause of gingivitis.

With these facts in hand, you now know what causes gums to bleed and suffer from gingivitis. However, there’s no need to panic – we can help. Read on to discover what helps with gum inflammation and some simple tips to prevent gingivitis in the future.

What helps with gum inflammation?

With inflamed gums, you need to act fast, so that the inflammation doesn’t spread and develops into periodontitis.² As you’ve probably already guessed, appropriate, thorough oral hygiene is what helps gingivitis. It is also the basis for the prevention of various dental and gum issues. Here are the main steps you should be following to treat swollen gums:

• Brushing your teeth twice a day. Regular and thorough brushing removes bacterial plaque and thus prevents inflamed gums. On each occasion, you should brush for at least two minutes, in an up-and-down motion. For even more protection, brush half an hour after eating to help prevent the build-up of plaque throughout the day.
  
  Tip: Use a good electronic toothbrush, which can remove plaque even in hard-to-reach places, such as the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean for example. The special gum-care brush head adapts to the contours of your gums and helps to maintain the health of your gums.
  
  
• Clean the interdental spaces. Brushing alone, even with a decent-quality toothbrush doesn’t help you get to all the hard-to-reach areas. Bacteria like to gather in interdental spaces. We recommend cleaning these areas once a day with dental floss or with a special interdental brush like the Philips Sonicare Power Flosser.
  
  
• Clean your tongue coating . Your mouth is home to around 700 species of bacteria⁵, and with plenty of hiding spots on the rough surface of your tongue as many if not more of these microbes can be found in the coating of your tongue. While this is not a necessary step, 6 it can be a helpful additional step in your oral care routine to give you that all-clean feeling.
  
  
• Use an antibacterial mouthwash: As the last step in daily oral hygiene, you can use an antibacterial mouthwash. Just like flossing, mouthwash has the ability to reach all areas of your mouth including the interdental spaces. Using it will help to prevent plaque and gingivitis.

Tip: If you are currently wondering what to do with gum inflammation, a medicinal mouthwash can help. It kills bacteria and prevents the new formation of plaque. You can also buy a special ointment at the pharmacy which will help to treat swollen gums and relieve the uncomfortable symptoms.

Don’t forget to seek advice from your pharmacist, dentist, or doctor if your symptoms are severe or you are worried about illness and infection.