Inflamed gums

Healthy teeth have everything to do with healthy gums. Healthy gums are pink in color, tight around the teeth, and do not bleed when brushing, flossing, brushing, raging or eating. Gums protect and line the jawbone and roots of the teeth.

To ensure the health of your gums, regular dental visits are recommended. The dentist, dental hygienist or (paro)prevention assistant can clean your teeth and provide preventive education about your oral health. If there is too much space between tooth and gums (pockets), treatment by the dental hygienist and/or periodontist is necessary to prevent the loss of teeth.

Gingivitis

Inflamed gums may be red, flabby, swollen and bleed easily when brushing or eating. Inflammation, which is limited to the edge of the gums, is called gingivitis. This is difficult to diagnose yourself, as many people do not experience pain and therefore are not sufficiently aware of this problem.

Periodontitis

When the inflammation spreads further into the jawbone, we call it periodontitis. If nothing is done about this, it will only get worse. As the height of the jawbone decreases, teeth can lose their hold; they become loose or may even fall out.

The gums may also recede and you may experience sensitive teeth, as the dental necks become exposed. This can also bring with it a foul taste or bad breath, but this does not have to be the case.