Gingivitis and Dentistry in Miami: Myths About Gingivitis

There are many misconceptions about gingivitis. One of the main ones is that believe that they would definitely know it if they had it. The reality is that many people live with chronic, undiagnosed gingivitis. Not only is it an incredibly common disease, it can be difficult to properly diagnose until the symptoms and damage become severe. Even Miami dentists who see their patients regularly can miss it in the early stages unless you tell them about specific symptoms. Some of the symptoms to look out for are gum sensitivity, bleeding while brushing or flossing, and chronic bad breath. Some people dismiss these symptoms as common and unimportant, or may not tell their dentist because they are embarrassed, but withholding those details can cause a lot of problems in the long run. Let's look at some of the other myths surrounding gingivitis.

*Myth #1: Gingivitis is caused by poor dental hygiene. While it's true that gingivitis can be caused or exacerbated by poor dental hygiene, too often people believe that their home oral care habits are the sole cause and remedy for this problem. Common medications, such as oral contraceptives, as well as natural life stages such as puberty, pregnancy and menopause can all cause women to develop gingivitis—even with a good oral maintenance routine. And all people are at greater risk for gum disease when they have a high stress lifestyle, something that's all too common in today's hectic world. Medical conditions such as diabetes can lead to gingivitis, and a good 30 percent of America's population is simply genetically prone to developing gum disease, no matter how well they brush or floss.

*Myth #2: Tooth loss is all part of the natural aging process. Maybe this sounds like a fact of life, but in fact it is just another myth about gingivitis. The reality is that tooth loss is not a natural part of aging. Any cosmetic dentist in Miami can tell you that given good dental hygiene and professional care, your teeth really should last you a lifetime. Time and time again, the root cause of adult and late life tooth loss has been traced back to undiagnosed or improperly treated gum disease.

*Gingivitis is irritating but it can't really hurt me. As if losing your teeth wasn't bad enough, unchecked gingivitis can be the root cause of a host of painful and damaging issues such as migrating teeth, increased susceptibility to cavity damage, loss of bone density in the jaw, joint and nerve pain, migraine headaches and sagging facial muscles. Gingivitis has also been linked to pneumonia, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

*Anti-bacterial mouthwash kills gingivitis. While some mouthwashes do kill the bacteria that can contribute to gingivitis, providing a temporary relief of initial stage symptoms such as gum sensitivity and bleeding, they don't permanently rid you of gum disease, or rectify the damage it may have already caused. The only real way to do that is to get professional help from a good Miami dentist or periodontist. Early stage gum disease can be treated by upping your dental cleaning and check up schedule until you are out of danger, but more serious damage needs to be promptly addressed by specific gum disease repair and preventative procedures.