Gingering

Gingivitis is a common and mild form of gum disease (periodontal disease) that causes irritation, redness, and swelling (inflammation) of your gingiva, the part of your gum around the base of your teeth. It's important to take gingivitis seriously and treat it promptly. Gingivitis can lead to much more serious gum disease called periodontitis and tooth loss.

Causes

The most common cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene that encourages plaque to form on teeth, causing inflammation of the surrounding gum tissues. Here's how plaque can lead to gingivitis:

• Plaque forms on your teeth when starches and sugars in food interact with bacteria normally found in your mouth. Plaque requires daily removal because it re-forms quickly.
• Plaque that stays on your teeth can harden under your gumline into tartar (calculus), which collects bacteria. Tartar makes plaque more difficult to remove, creates a protective shield for bacteria, and causes irritation along the gumline.
• The longer that plaque and tartar remain on your teeth, the more they irritate the gingiva, the part of your gum around the base of your teeth, causing inflammation. Over time, your gums can swell and bleed easily.

Symptoms

Symptoms of gingivitis include:

• Red, swollen gums
• Gums that bleed easily when you brush or floss
• Bad breath
• Receding gums
• Soft gums

If you notice any signs and symptoms of gingivitis, schedule an appointment with your dentist. The sooner you seek care, the better your chances of reversing damage from gingivitis and preventing its progression to periodontitis.

Prevention

Good oral health habits can help prevent gingivitis. These include:

• Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
• Flossing daily
• Getting regular dental checkups
• Avoiding tobacco use
• Limiting sugary foods and drinks

Treatment

Treatment for gingivitis includes professional dental cleaning and improved oral hygiene. In mild cases of gingivitis, patients may not even know they have it. However, if you notice any symptoms, it is important to get treatment to prevent the progression of gingivitis to periodontitis, which can lead to tooth loss and other health problems.

Professional cleaning can remove plaque and tartar that can't be removed at home. If gingivitis continues despite the effort to prevent it, more extensive dental treatment may be necessary, such as dental scaling and root planing - a deep-cleaning technique.

See Also

• Periodontitis
• Oral hygiene
• Dental plaque
• Tartar