Some 9 years ago, my roommates taking ZOO 102 classes had just been taught about gingivitis and it was all we would talk about, when someone gets too close to us while talking, we'd scream gingivitis😂. What bittersweet memories. After the one year with the girls, we all moved on to different dorms and the fun ended but the word stayed with me.
For years after, whenever I had a sore in my mouth, I think about gingivitis (half knowledge is really dangerous). Took me some research and of course, further studies to eventually differentiate between gingivitis, herpes and mouth ulcer. Let's take a look at it.
Gingivitis
This is the inflammation of the gum, characterized by redness, irritation and sometimes bleeding. It is derived from the word gingiva (the gum around the base of the teeth) and it literally means the sweeling of the gingiva. Sufferers can also have bad breath and loose teeth.
It can be caused by plaques (from starch and sugar) which then become tartar (harder to remove and abhors microbes), the longer you have these on your teeth, the more inflamed your gingiva is.
Asides poor oral hygiene, gingivitis may be due to poor nutrition, dry mouth, old age, certain chemotherapy, poor dentition, genetics and hormonal changes.
It can be prevented by good oral hygiene, regular dental check up and good food habits.
Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1);
I have many encounters with this one though I've never had it, the Yoruba people of South West Nigeria refer to it as maje ata (don't eat pepper). This name is as a result of the peppery sensation felt by people who have it.
HSV-1 is also know as oral herpes, it is cold sore or blisters around the mouth, you'll find it at the corners of the lips. HSV-1 is gotten through contact with oral secretions of an infected, by kissing, by sharing eating utensils and toothbrushes. It is important to note that not all carriers of HSV-1 are symptomatic. There's also a shocker, it has no cure! It can be repressed but no permanent cure for it (at least for now).
Mouth ulcer;
This is characterized by painful sores on inner lips, the gums, on the tongue, roof of the mouth or the throat that may affect eating. It occurs in cold sore, canker sore, and even stomatitis.
Now that we've taken those out of the way, let's talk;
- When was the last time you went for a dental check up?
- How often do you change your brush?
- How often do you brush?
- Do you even know how to brush properly?
- What's the level of your sugar and starch intake? Must be minimal especially before sleeping.
- Do you eat sweets right before bedtime? You shouldn't.
- Do you use toothpaste that contains fluoride? You should.
- Do you wash your tongue while brushing or you forget it? You should.
- Do you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables? You should.
- You may get a mouthwash.
- Drink a lot of water.
Posted from myAirClinic Healthcare App. Download Android Version from PLAYSTORE!