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While brushing your teeth, you noticed that your gums are red and swollen. There’s also a bump on them that wasn’t there before. Your first inclination is that this may be a sign of gingivitis, but how can your know it isn’t something even more serious, like gum cancer? While a visit to your dentist is the only way to know which one it is for sure, here’s what gingivitis and gum cancer are, how to recognize them, and things you can do to prevent them.
What is Gingivitis?
Gum disease is an infection of the gum tissue that’s often caused by poor oral hygiene. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease and is generally easy to prevent, treat, and even reverse. Side effects of gingivitis include redness, swelling, gums that bleed easily, chronic bad breath, and tenderness. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress into a much more serious infection called periodontitis.
What Is Gum Cancer?
This form of oral cancer is characterized by patches or irregular growths on the gums. These growths or patches are red or white and can show up anywhere in the mouth. If they are just white, they are probably benign, which means they aren’t cancerous. If the splotches are red and white or just red, they are likely malignant, which means they’re cancerous. Gum cancer spreads quickly, so early detection by visiting your dentist increases your chances of successful treatment. Common symptoms of gum cancer include:
- Loose teeth or ill-fitting dentures
- A lump that doesn’t go away
- An altered sense of taste
- A sore that won’t heal
- Cracking of the gums
- Difficulty eating
- Bleeding gums
- Pain
Methods of Prevention
Fortunately, there are several things you can do to lessen your chances of developing gingivitis or gum cancer. Along with making biannual visits to your dentist, you should also make sure to:
- Brush – Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid damaging your enamel and fluoride toothpaste to strengthen your pearly whites. Do this once after you wake up and once before you go to bed for two minutes both times.
- Floss – Use dental floss to remove food particles, plaque, and bacteria from between your teeth at least once per day, preferably after you eat dinner.
- Don’t smoke or drink excessively – Tobacco use sharply raises your chances of developing oral and several other forms of cancer. Additionally, smoking and excessive drinking both lead to dry mouth, which can cause gum disease. Cut these habits out to lessen your chances of complications.
- Eat a balanced diet – Cut back on your consumption of sugar and high-carb foods. Eat tooth-approved foods like fish, lean meats, low-fat or fat-free dairy like yogurt and cheese, fresh fruits and veggies, and nuts like almonds instead.
With these things in mind, make sure you do what you can to lessen your chances of developing issues with your gums. Your smile will thank you for it!
About the Practice
Led by Dr. Gary Rosenfeld, Dr. Michael DeSivo, Dr. Ben Eghbali, and Dr. Yumee Yang, Island Daily Dental Care offers patients the exceptional care they need to keep their smiles healthy and strong. They offer periodontal therapy to treat gum disease as well as oral cancer screenings to keep your mouth healthy and your smile bright. Call Island Daily Dental Care at (631) 286-9000 or visit their website for more information on gum cancer and gingivitis or to schedule an appointment.