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

Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
Updated on January 14, 2025
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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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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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The Hazards of Gingivitis

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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Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
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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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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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The difference between periodontitis and gingivitis

Periodontitis and gingivitis have essential differences. Gingivitis is the early stage of periodontitis. Both gingivitis and periodontitis involve the formation of periodontal pockets, but the pockets in gingivitis are pseudo pockets, caused by inflammation of the gums which leads to the local proliferation or swelling of the gums, enveloping part of the tooth crown. In contrast, the periodontal pockets in periodontitis are true pockets, caused by the resorption of the alveolar bone, a condition that accompanies the loss of alveolar bone. Therefore, the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis lies in whether there is bone loss or not.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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Why does gingivitis bleed at night?

Patients with gingivitis often experience gum bleeding. However, this bleeding mainly occurs during morning tooth brushing, but it can also occur at night, though the timing is unpredictable. Patients with gingivitis should be cautious about their diet and avoid hard or overly spicy foods. Since gingivitis is a chronic inflammation, it can cause trauma during tooth brushing or chewing, leading to bleeding of the gum tissues. Therefore, it is advised that patients brush gently if they have gingivitis, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and maintaining a mild diet. Additionally, patients should focus on oral hygiene and develop proper oral health habits, including brushing their teeth both morning and night.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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Where is it effective to massage for gingivitis treatment?

When the patient experiences gingivitis pain, if they want to treat and alleviate it through traditional Chinese medicine massage, the simplest method is to massage the Hegu acupoint on the hand. Additionally, massaging the Xiaguan acupoint can also play a role in alleviation. It is advised that if the patient experiences severe pain and acute inflammation of the gums, they should first maintain a light diet and drink more water for conditioning. If there is no improvement, oral anti-inflammatory drugs such as artificial bezoar metronidazole can be taken. This can be combined with some antibiotic anti-inflammatory drugs, such as amoxicillin, levofloxacin hydrochloride, or other drugs like roxithromycin, all of which can have anti-inflammatory effects and relieve pain. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)