Gingivitis: Understanding, Preventing, and Treating Gum Disease

Gingivitis is a common and mild form of gum 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.

What is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease and is caused by plaque buildup on teeth. Plaque is a soft, sticky film containing bacteria that forms on your teeth when sugars and starches in food interact with bacteria normally found in your mouth. Daily brushing and flossing remove plaque, but plaque re-forms quickly.

Symptoms of Gingivitis

Gingivitis is often painless, so many people may not know they have it. However, it can cause:

• Swollen or puffy gums
• Dusky red or dark red gums
• Gums that bleed easily when you brush or floss
• Bad breath
• Receding gums
• Tender gums

Causes of Gingivitis

Gingivitis begins with plaque, the sticky, invisible film of bacteria that forms on your teeth. If plaque is not removed, it hardens into tartar, a hard deposit that only a professional cleaning can remove. The longer 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.

Risk Factors

Several factors can increase your risk of gingivitis, including:

• Poor oral care habits
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Older age
• Dry mouth
• Poor nutrition, including vitamin C deficiency
• Dental restorations that don’t fit properly or crooked teeth that are difficult to clean
• Conditions that decrease immunity such as leukemia, HIV/AIDS or cancer treatment
• Certain drugs, such as phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek) for epileptic seizures, and some calcium channel blockers, used for angina, high blood pressure and other conditions
• Hormonal changes, such as those related to pregnancy, menstrual cycle or use of birth control pills
• Medical conditions such as certain viral and fungal infections

Prevention of Gingivitis

Good oral health habits, such as brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily, and getting regular dental checkups can help prevent gingivitis. Additional tips include:

• Regular Professional Dental Cleanings: Professional cleanings are the only way to remove tartar. Also, it can remove any plaque you missed when brushing or flossing.
• Good Oral Hygiene Practices: Brush your teeth after every meal or at least twice a day. Floss at least once a day. Proper brushing and flossing remove plaque and food particles from teeth and gums.
• Healthy Diet: Eat a healthy diet and limit snacks between meals. Avoid sugary foods and beverages.

Treatment of Gingivitis

Prompt treatment usually reverses symptoms of gingivitis and prevents its progression to more serious gum disease and tooth loss. The steps of treatment include:

• Professional Dental Cleaning: During a dental cleaning, all plaque and tartar are removed. Scaling removes tartar and bacteria from your tooth surfaces and beneath your gums. Root planing removes the bacterial products produced by inflammation, smooths the root surfaces, discourages further buildup of tartar and bacteria, and allows proper healing.
• Dental Restoration if Needed: Misaligned teeth, poorly fitting crowns or bridges, or other dental restorations may irritate your gums and make it harder to remove plaque during daily oral care. If problems with your teeth or dental restorations contribute to your gingivitis, your dentist may recommend fixing these problems.
• Ongoing Care: Gingivitis usually clears up after a thorough professional cleaning, as long as you continue good oral hygiene at home.

When to See a Dentist

If you notice any symptoms of gingivitis, make 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.