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GUM DISEASE
Gum Disease - what is it ?
Healthy gums do not bleed spontaneously or when you brush your teeth; bleeding gums are abnormal and mean that something is wrong.
CAUSE
- Injury due to a toothbrush with hard/splayed bristles or careless tooth brushing/flossing.
- Bacterial/dental plague build up in the space between gum and teeth;
- Gum disease. (Inflamed/infected gums bleed easily because there is more blood in the vicinity bringing defence cells to fight off the bacteria).
- Vitamin C deficiency.
- Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF).
- Bleeding disorders.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Go to the Emergency Department of the nearest hospital if you have fever, flu-like symptoms, abdominal pain, nose bleeds, vomiting of blood, blood in the stool or any bleeding elsewhere.
- See your dentist if your gums are red, itchy, swollen & spongy (i.e. symptoms of gum disease).
- See your doctor if you have spontaneous bruising (bleeding in the skin) on other parts of the body(i.e. symptoms of bleeding disorders).
WHAT YOUR DOCTOR/PHARMACIST CAN DO FOR YOU
- Determine any medical cause of bleeding gums and treat accordingly.
- Admit you into hospital for observation/further investigation, if necessary.
WHAT YOUR DENTIST CAN DO FOR YOU
- Deep cleaning of pockets of bacterial/dental plague.
- Scaling/polishing to remove tartar (hardened dental plague) at gum margins.
- Treat gum disease.
- Teach you how to brush/floss your teeth properly.
- Refer you to a medical doctor if bleeding is not due to a dental cause.
PREVENTION TIPS
- Use a toothbrush with soft bristles, change to a new toothbrush as soon as the bristles splay.
- Brush/floss your teeth properly taking care to clean the gum margins well.
- Go for dental check-ups margins well.
- Take adequate vitamin C in your diet. Food with vitamin C - - papaya, guava, lemons, limes, water melons, mangoes, oranges, grapefruit and leafy green vegetables.
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