The Hazards of Gingivitis

Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
Updated on September 14, 2024
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Gingivitis refers to an inflammation of the gum tissues, commonly caused by not brushing teeth in time after eating, accumulation of food residues or dental plaque around the teeth, which over time forms tartar due to the calcification by saliva. This long-term irritation to the gum tissue leads to bleeding gums, including bleeding while eating or brushing teeth. It is necessary to get a timely dental cleaning, otherwise it can lead to periodontitis or even result in loose teeth, and potentially tooth loss. Therefore, the harm caused by gingivitis is significant. Once gingivitis occurs, it requires timely dental cleaning to remove tartar and other irritating factors to alleviate symptoms of gum bleeding, allowing the gums to return to a normal, healthy state.

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What will happen if gingivitis lasts for a long time?

Gingivitis has a high incidence rate, and the initial symptoms are not obvious, which many people overlook. Gingivitis is caused by the presence of a large amount of dental plaque and tartar on the gums. Long-term bacteria can cause inflammation of the gums, resulting in swollen and painful gums. Severe cases may often experience bleeding gums. If not treated promptly, the inflammation can further develop into periodontal inflammation, causing periodontal atrophy. This leads to insufficient periodontal protection around the tooth roots, bleeding, loose teeth, and tooth loss, severely affecting health. Therefore, it is essential to treat gingivitis promptly and pay more attention to oral hygiene to maintain healthy teeth.

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Can gingivitis be transmitted through kissing?

The patient presents with gingivitis, generally due to intrinsic causes. It could be caused by the patient's internal heat leading to inflamed gums, resulting in gingivitis and periodontitis. Typically, kissing does not lead to transmission because it is not a contagious disease. It is advised that the patient pays attention to their oral hygiene, regularly undergoes dental cleaning, and avoids causing other dental diseases. Gingivitis and oral ulcers do not spread through kissing. However, it is recommended that the patient seeks timely treatment and avoids kissing during this time. While it does not cause contagion, it can lead to the spread of some bacteria in the mouth, which may exacerbate the condition. Therefore, early treatment is advised, but there is no need for excessive worry.

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How to treat severe gingivitis?

Gingivitis is relatively common in daily life, mainly due to poor oral hygiene, dental calculus, plaque, food residues, and soft tartar, which irritate the gums, causing redness, swelling, and bleeding of the gums. If severe, it can lead to gum recession, absorption of the alveolar bone, and loosening or loss of teeth. For severe gingivitis, initial treatment involves supragingival cleaning followed by subgingival scaling and root planing. If individual teeth continue to experience recurring swelling and pain after scaling, surgical treatment such as gingival flap surgery may be performed. This involves cutting open the gums to thoroughly remove calculus, plaque, food residues, and soft tartar, which can subsequently improve tooth mobility. In cases where teeth cannot be preserved and need to be extracted, severe gingivitis can also lead to the formation of gum abscesses. In such cases, oral cephalexin can be taken, and using a compound chlorhexidine mouthwash can help alleviate the condition and reduce pain.

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If gingivitis becomes severe, to what extent will it reach?

When gingivitis occurs, if the inflammation is not controlled in time, severe cases may lead to purulent infections. Also, long-term chronic inflammation can cause the gingival tissue to shrink. As it progresses, this shrinkage may no longer adequately cover the roots of the teeth, leading to loose teeth, and in more severe cases, tooth loss. Therefore, when patients have gingivitis, they can undergo timely treatment, taking anti-inflammatory drugs orally for treatment. Additionally, diet and lifestyle are also important. It is vital to develop correct oral hygiene habits, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and eat more light foods rich in vitamins and vegetables to aid the nutritional repair of soft tissues.

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The difference between periodontitis and gingivitis.

Gingivitis and periodontitis are distinct conditions, with gingivitis being an early stage of periodontitis. If gingivitis is not treated in time, it can progress into periodontitis. The difference between gingivitis and periodontitis lies in the formation of periodontal pockets. During the stages of gingivitis and periodontitis, periodontal pockets are categorized into true and false pockets. During an outbreak of periodontitis, true periodontal pockets form due to the loss of alveolar bone, whereas the pockets during the gingivitis stage are false pockets, formed by the overgrowth of gum tissue. Once true periodontal pockets are formed, there is either loss or destructive resorption of the alveolar bone. Therefore, the crucial difference between gingivitis and periodontitis lies in whether there is destructive resorption of the alveolar bone, which fundamentally distinguishes the two conditions.