Bleeding, receding or 'just' painful gums? These could simply be symptoms of early gingivitis or, worse, advanced gingivitis. Look at the symptoms and see how you can protect yourself against them.

 

These are the symptoms

Blood is often a sign that something is not quite right somewhere. This also applies to the mouth. Do you have blood in your mouth after brushing your teeth? Then this may indicate gingivitis. Sensitive gums, something like that. You know something is wrong if you get shooting pains in your gums while brushing or eating, this can also be a symptom.

If you have been suffering from the above symptoms for a while, this could simply mean that you have gingivitis or periodontitis. Gingivitis is caused by plaque that causes inflammation on the edge of the gums. Periodontitis is an advanced gum infection. In this case, a visit to your dentist or dental hygienist is a must . They are the only ones who can detect this inflammation. So you don't immediately realize that you have periodontal disease, but if you don't do anything about it for too long, there is a chance that your teeth will become looser or that more space will be created between your teeth. And of course we don't want that.

You can do this against inflamed gums

The solution for gum complaints consists of two words: excellent oral hygiene! With versatile oral hygiene you protect the health of your gums. Plaque is often the cause of gingivitis, so make sure you don't give plaque a chance to settle. How do you optimize your oral hygiene?

Brush with the right toothbrush and NOT too often!

 

Many people tend to brush their teeth more often when their gums are sore, but this can actually damage the gums. Keep brushing your teeth thoroughly 2 to 3 times a day, that is enough. Preferably brush with a toothbrush that has soft to medium hard bristles, so that the gums are burdened as little as possible. And don't forget the difficult spots behind your wisdom teeth!

To rinse

 

By rinsing with mouthwash or coconut oil you remove bad bacteria from your gums, even from the hard-to-reach places. Continuing to rinse every day will also help prevent inflammation in the future!

Daily toothpicking

 

By running a toothpick between your teeth, you don't give plaque a chance to build up. Also remove any food particles that are still hiding in your mouth. It is therefore best to floss or floss after dinner.

Do you continue to have problems with your gums? Please contact your dentist about any further measures.