Brushing and flossing are important to prevent tooth decay and vital for healthy gums. If your gums are sore, swollen, or bleeding, there’s a good chance you’re not brushing and flossing as well as you should.
How do you get rid of puffy gums with braces? Bleeding gums with braces could be signs of the beginning stage of gum disease called gingivitis.
The Wilson & Hendrickson Orthodontics doctors know brushing and flossing can be more challenging with braces. But they also know the consequences of not brushing with braces, including gingivitis and other periodontal diseases.
What is gingivitis? Can you get rid of gingivitis with braces? What happens if you don’t brush with braces? You may be surprised at what could happen and how easy it can be to stop gingivitis from getting worse.
What Is Gingivitis?
What is gingivitis, and how do you get gingivitis with braces? Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease. It’s reversible if you catch it early and treat it properly. The symptoms of gingivitis are swelling, redness, soreness, and bleeding of the gums. Your gums may bleed after brushing or flossing, or even after eating.
How do you get gingivitis? Gingivitis is caused by plaque buildup along your gumline. Bacteria in the plaque can irritate your gums. It’s the same bacteria that can cause tooth decay. If that plaque is not removed with proper brushing and flossing, it builds up and hardens, becoming tartar. That tartar traps bacteria against your gums, irritating them and causing gingivitis.
Can you have braces with gum disease? You can develop gum disease while wearing braces. This is why the Wilson & Hendrickson Orthodontics team strongly encourages our patients to maintain good oral hygiene habits.
We know getting around all those wires and brackets can be more challenging, but there are ways to do it. The alternative is to end up with gingivitis, which can develop into more serious gum disease if you don’t practice good oral hygiene.
Gingivitis can develop into periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease. This stage can cause intense gum and tooth pain, infections, and tooth loss. If you suspect you have gingivitis or periodontitis, let us know right away so we can work on a treatment plan.
Can you get braces with gum disease? We would prefer you treat and reverse your gum disease before braces because gum disease could affect the movement of your teeth. If you have signs of gum disease, visit your dentist before getting braces.
What Are the Signs of Gingivitis With Braces?
Having braces for common orthodontic problems may make it harder to recognize gingivitis. Your gums may be sore from gingivitis or from a recent braces adjustment. You may think the braces are causing puffy gums instead of gingivitis. Perhaps you assume moving teeth cause gum bleeding.
While an adjustment can make your teeth and gums sore, that soreness should only last a day or two. If it persists, there’s a good chance it isn’t related to your braces. Instead, it could be gingivitis. Also, braces shouldn’t cause your gums to bleed, so that is likely gingivitis.
Alert us right away if you suspect you have gingivitis. We want to fix it before it gets worse because advanced gum disease could delay your braces treatment until it is repaired.
While poor hygiene is the leading cause of gingivitis, other factors can contribute to or cause gum disease. This can include a genetic tendency toward gum disease, the use of tobacco products, and the use of certain medications. Illness and hormonal changes can also affect your gums.
We’ll discuss all possible causes with you and determine the best way to combat your gum disease and avoid related orthodontic emergencies, such as a severe infection or a lost tooth.
How Do I Treat Gingivitis?
An early stage of gingivitis is swollen gums with braces or bleeding gums with braces. How do you get rid of gum swelling with braces? There are several options, depending on the cause of your gum disease.
Early stages of gingivitis are easy to treat. The best way is to practice good oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing properly at least twice a day for two minutes each time will halt and reverse your gingivitis. Clean thoroughly around each bracket, and use floss threaders to get around the wires of your braces and floss your teeth well.
You should also see your regular dentist for your semi-annual cleanings and checkups. Your dentist can spot gingivitis and clean away tartar and plaque buildup that can cause it.
Here’s another tip you might not know about: changing your toothbrush or toothbrush head can help prevent gum disease. Over time, your toothbrush’s bristles become soft and bent and lose their scrubbing effectiveness. Changing your toothbrush or toothbrush head (if you use an electric toothbrush) will make it easier to keep your teeth and gums clean.
What if you have gum disease with braces, but it’s not caused by oral hygiene? Gum disease could also be caused by medications or, in the cases of pregnant women, hormonal changes. Talk to your doctor about changing medications or other solutions that can reverse your gum disease.
Gingivitis With Braces Care in Topeka, KS
If you feel you have gingivitis, brush and floss properly. You can also rinse your gums with warm salt water a few times a day to reduce inflammation and bleeding.
Certain foods are best avoided with braces. These foods can damage your braces and irritate your gums, so they should be avoided if you have gingivitis. These include hard foods and candies, crunchy foods like tortilla chips, and sticky or chewy foods.
If you need an orthodontist in Topeka, KS, or Seneca, KS, areas, you can learn more about braces treatment and preventing gum disease by contacting Wilson & Hendrickson Orthodontics. We’ll evaluate your dental needs and provide a plan to give you the smile you’ve always wanted.