Gingivitis – Is it contagious?
Written by admin on April 16, 2012
If you have bright red, shiny gums, swollen gums, gums that are tender when you touch them or bleeding gums and mouth sores, then you have all the symptoms of gingivitis. Gingivitis is an early stage of periodontal disease where there is an inflammation and infection of the gums. If this is left untreated, they can lead to tooth loss or can even be on more serious problems like heart disease.
It has been estimated that 75 percent of us have some form of gingivitis or periodontal disease, although not many are aware of it. This is the most common in the mouths of people in their 30s and older but also may begin as early as adolescence. The most common cause of this disease is plaque, a mixture of food debris, mucus and bacteria. When plaque and tartar is allowed to build up in the mouth, it will irritate the gums and the bacteria in it will produce toxins that cause the gums to become inflamed and infected.
Although the research is still in its preliminary stages, it has been found that there are links suggesting that people with periodontal disease pass along the disease-causing bacteria through saliva. The children under the age of 3 years old are 26 times more likely to be tested positive for A. actinomycetemcomitans in their mouths if their mothers are also tested positive for that bacteria. Spouses are no safer with the transmission than kids. There are multiple studies that found oral bacteria transmission through person-to-person, mouth-to-mouth contact.
With these researches, it is no wonder that periodontal diseaseis the No. 1 cause of tooth loss among adults in the U.S., not cavities. That is why a lot of people have been looking for ways on gingivitis treatment. The good news is that if you have gingivitis-causing bacteria in your mouth, it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll develop gum disease. There are other factors like oral hygiene habits, personal habits, health and heredity that determine whether or not the gums will become infected, not just the bacteria alone.
If you are worried about the gingival bacteria in your mouth, don’t be. The good news is that gingivitis is reversible and there are a lot of gingivitis cure you can get. You might want to reach for antibiotics to kill the disease, but treatment most frequently consists of a process called scaling and root planing, two therapies that help control the bacteria and infection and deep clean the gums. There are also some prescription medications such as mouthwashes and gels that contain antibiotics and antimicrobial ingredients may help with long-term disease control.



