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Health Tip: Learn the Warning Signs of Gingivitis

By HealthCast on December 1, 2009

Gingivitis is the medical term for inflammation of the gums. A type of periodontal disease, it’s caused by the long-term build-up of bacteria, mucus and food debris on exposed portions of the teeth.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers this list of warning signs for gingivitis:

Gums that bleed (check your toothbrush after brushing for blood).
Gums that appear bright red or purple.
Gums that are sore or tender to the touch.
Sores inside the mouth.
Swelling of the gums.
Gums that appear shiny.

Source: HealthDay

Are You Living with Psoriasis?

A growing knowledge of the skin disease called psoriasis is leading to greater treatment choices, including personalized therapies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports.

Psoriasis is an immune system disorder that causes overproduction of skin cells, resulting in scaling, pain, swelling, redness and heat. The condition affects about 7.5 million Americans.

“As we better understand the disease, researchers know more about what specific factors to target in order to develop effective treatments,” FDA dermatologist Dr. Melinda McCord said in an agency news release.

There is no cure for psoriasis, so the main goals of treatments are to stop skin cell overproduction and reduce inflammation. Current therapies include medicines applied to the skin (topical), light treatment (phototherapy), or drugs taken by mouth or given by injection.

Doctors used to take a step-by-step approach, starting patients with mild to moderate psoriasis on topical therapy. If that was ineffective, doctors moved on to phototherapy or drug treatment.

Health Tip: Learn the Warning Signs of Gingivitis

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Are You Living with Psoriasis?

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