Diagnosis of inflamed gums | Inflammation of the gums

Diagnosis of inflamed gums

From time to time, the patient notices at home when looking in the mirror that the gums have become inflamed because he or she can see the swelling and comes to the dentist by himself or herself. In most cases, however, an inflammation of the gums is only discovered by the dentist during the annual check-up.During a check-up, a thin rounded probe is used to check for the presence of gingival pockets and if so, how deep they are. If gum pockets are present, the inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) has already turned into an inflammation of the periodontium (periodontitis).

If the probe penetrates the pockets with more than two to three millimeters, a gingival pocket is present. Treatment of periodontitis must be initiated immediately, because in case of periodontitis the bone may have already receded and there is an acute risk of tooth loss. Measuring the pocket depths or sulcus depths, depending on what is present, is not painful.

If necessary, the saliva can be examined to determine whether too little saliva is produced by the body or whether the composition of the saliva may possibly favour the development of inflammation of the gums. The doctor can see from the medical history sheet what medications the patient is taking and which diseases are conducive to inflammation of the gums. The check-up should take place once a year.

Inflamed gums in the child

Even children are not spared from gingivitis. In the case of poor dental hygiene, gum redness and bleeding can occur, just like in adults. Since the little ones often do not brush properly, parents are in demand here.

They should regularly check or even improve dental hygiene at least until early school age in order to reduce tooth and soft tissue damage. Aphthae are also frequently found in children. Mechanical stimuli such as braces or food intolerances are suspected to trigger them.

Most causes are relatively harmless and can be eliminated with a simple therapy. However, the situation is different in the case of periodontal disease. The “juvenile periodontitis” is a special form.

This is a very aggressive form of periodontal disease, which begins in childhood or adolescence. It progresses rapidly without treatment and can lead to tooth loss. Especially affected are the middle incisors and the first large molars.

These should therefore always be kept well in view. This form of periodontosis often occurs within a family, which is why it is suspected that it is partially hereditary.