What will happen if gingivitis is not treated?

Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
Updated on December 21, 2024
00:00
00:00

When a patient has gingivitis, if they cannot receive timely treatment, they may experience long-term inflammation that irritates the gum tissue, leading to nutrient loss in the gums and eventual gum recession. Further progression can lead to loose teeth, and ultimately, tooth loss. Therefore, it is crucial for patients with gingivitis to seek prompt treatment. Additionally, patients must pay attention to oral hygiene, as long-term poor oral hygiene is a major cause of gingivitis. It is important to promptly remove food residues after meals to prevent bacterial infections. Furthermore, developing correct brushing habits in the morning and evening is recommended, and patients should consider regular dental cleanings, which can effectively remove tartar and plaque, reducing irritation to the gums.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
53sec home-news-image

Can gingivitis be detected by taking an X-ray?

Gingivitis is some inflammatory changes in the gum tissue, which cannot be seen on an X-ray. Generally, an X-ray can reveal some changes in the anatomical structure of the teeth. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with gingivitis should seek diagnosis at a formal dental hospital. Treatment should be targeted based on the specific symptoms of the gums and should not be limited to other tests. A comprehensive consideration of multiple examinations can potentially enhance the repair of the teeth. For general gingivitis, it is appropriate to take some anti-inflammatory medication orally. In terms of diet, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and refrain from consuming foods that are too cold, too hot, or too hard, as these may irritate the gums.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
1min 15sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
1min 2sec home-news-image

Can I eat grapes with gingivitis?

Patients with gingivitis can eat grapes, as grapes contain rich vitamins and nutrients, which can be very beneficial to the body. However, it is recommended that patients rinse their mouth and brush their teeth immediately after eating grapes to remove any residual grape juice. Since grapes are sweet, leaving residues in the mouth can lead to bacterial growth and worsen gingivitis. Therefore, patients can consume a moderate amount of grapes, and eating other fresh fruits can also be beneficial for inflammation recovery. In daily life, it is also recommended for patients to eat more fresh vegetables and fruits. For gingivitis, it is important to identify the causes, whether it is due to wisdom teeth, periodontitis, or apical periodontitis. In such cases, it is generally advised to seek medical advice and receive appropriate treatment under the guidance of a doctor.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
1min 2sec home-news-image

Can gingivitis heal itself?

Gingivitis is difficult to heal on its own and requires corresponding treatment. Gingivitis is inflammation of the gum tissue, characterized by redness of the gums, swelling, pus leakage, or bleeding during brushing and eating, with bleeding during brushing being a common symptom that often prompts timely medical attention. Examination of the teeth can reveal a large amount of dental plaque, tartar, or biofilm around the gum area. In such cases, timely dental cleaning is necessary to remove these deposits. During the removal process, bleeding from the gums may worsen, and it may be necessary to apply medication around the gums, using anti-inflammatory drugs to help alleviate the inflammation. If the inflammation is controlled, gingivitis may be managed, but without treatment, gingivitis cannot heal by itself.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
1min 2sec home-news-image

How to treat gingivitis and periodontitis?

Gingivitis and periodontitis are both phenomena of periodontal diseases. Gingivitis is the initial stage of periodontitis, with the earliest phase typically being common gingivitis. If gingivitis is not well controlled, it can further develop into periodontitis. However, once periodontitis occurs, there is definitely inflammation of the gums. In the development of both gingivitis and periodontitis, dental plaque and tartar generally play a major role. When gingivitis occurs, the lesions are generally limited to the gum tissue, and at this time, the course of the disease is relatively milder. If gingivitis is not cured and develops into periodontitis, it will not only damage the gums but also the alveolar bone, and other periodontal tissues will also be destroyed. Therefore, it is advised that patients with gingivitis should take timely treatment measures.