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Gingivitis
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SENIORS' HEALTH |
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Dental Care
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Gingivitis is an
inflammatory process limited to the mucosal
epithelial tissue surrounding the cervical portion
of the teeth and the alveolar processes. Gingivitis
has been classified by clinical appearance (eg,
ulcerative, hemorrhagic, necrotizing, purulent),
etiology (eg, drug-induced, hormonal, nutritional,
infectious, plaque-induced), and duration (acute,
chronic). The most common type of gingivitis is a
chronic form induced by plaque. Acute necrotizing
ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG, ie, trench mouth) is an
acute infectious gingivitis.
Prevention
The best way to prevent gingivitis is to use good dental hygiene. This
includes regular brushing and flossing of your teeth and periodic
professional cleaning to prevent buildup of plaque and tartar.
Follow these tips to keep your gums healthy:
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Choose the
right toothbrush.
Select one with soft, end-rounded or polished bristles, small enough
to clean your back teeth as well as your front teeth.
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Buy fluoride
toothpaste.
Fluoride toothpaste helps remove plaque while protecting against
cavities.
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Brush twice
daily.
Do your brushing just before bedtime and again each morning. During
sleep, saliva flow lessens and gives bacteria a chance to multiply.
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Brush properly.
To clean outer surfaces of your teeth and gums, use short,
back-and-forth, then up-and-down strokes. Use vertical strokes to
clean inner surfaces. Include both teeth and gums.
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Angle your
brush.
To clean the junction between your teeth and gums, hold your brush
at a 45-degree angle to your teeth. This allows the bristles to
clean the groove between your gums and your teeth.
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Floss daily.
Hold the floss taut and bent around each tooth in a C shape,
scraping up and down each side of each tooth. Each stroke should go
slightly below your gum line until you feel resistance. Flossing
removes plaque between your teeth and helps massage your gums.
Unwaxed floss works as well as waxed floss.
In addition to daily oral hygiene, visit your dentist at least annually
for a routine cleaning and a dental checkup.
Gingivitis
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