Gingivitis is one of the most common and mild types of gum disease; it mainly manifests as inflammation and soreness of the gums. Although it may appear as a minor problem, if left untreated, it could progress to severe forms such as periodontitis, resulting in tooth loss. However, gingivitis is a preventable condition and can usually be reversed.

You may wonder how gum disease occurs and what measures you can take to prevent it. Learning about the causes, signs, and ways to prevent and cure gingivitis will help you prevent problems with your gums and teeth.

If you or a loved one is showing symptoms of gingivitis or wants to avoid developing it, you should visit your dentist at least twice a year.

An Overview of Gingivitis

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums, usually caused by the formation of dental plaque, a soft layer of bacteria that accumulates on the teeth. However, if ignored, gingivitis can advance to further stages of gum disease that may be difficult to treat.

The most apparent sign of gingivitis is red, swollen gums that might be painful and bleed when you brush your teeth or floss. However, since it often does not cause discomfort, people do not pay attention to these symptoms until they become severe.

Causes of Gingivitis

 A lack of dental hygiene causes gingivitis. When the plaque is not washed away by proper brushing and flossing, bacteria build up and cause gum inflammation. Plaque develops through the chemical reaction of sugars and starches in your food and the bacteria in your mouth.

Eventually, these inflammations could progress subgingivally, and you could develop periodontitis that requires professional dental intervention. However, unlike periodontitis, gingivitis is reversible as long as attention is paid to it and it is detected early enough.

Also, if the plaque buildup is not done away with by brushing and flossing, plaque turns into tartar, which is much harder to eliminate and causes worse inflammation of the gums. Several other factors can contribute to the development of gingivitis; they include the following:

  • Hormonal Changes

Gum inflammation is also more likely to occur when hormones change, as is the case during pregnancy, puberty, menstruation, and menopause.

  • Medical Conditions

Some diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and HIV/AIDS, compromise the immune system, making it difficult for the body to resist infections such as gum infections.

  • Medications

Certain drugs decrease saliva production, which is necessary for the well-being of teeth and gums as they moisturize teeth and wash away bacteria and food debris. Also, some drugs cause an overgrowth of bacteria in the gums, which leads to gingivitis due to inflammation of the gum tissues.

  • Smoking

Smoking is also known to affect gum conditions, and smokers will always be at a higher risk of developing gum diseases. Smoking also dries up the saliva needed to clean your teeth and gums.

  • Poor Nutrition

A diet low in nutrients, especially vitamin C, will slow down your body’s ability to heal tissues, including the gum tissues. This eventually leads to gum inflammation due to weak immunity.

Who Can Be Affected by Gingivitis?

 Gingivitis is a non-specific disease that can affect any person of any age; however, some people are at a higher risk of contracting the disease. Knowing who can be affected by gingivitis is critical to developing ways of protecting your mouth from diseases. Those at a higher risk include the following:

  • Teenagers and older adults: Gingivitis is not exclusive to adults, but it is much more prevalent in adults than in children. With time, your gums become less elastic and susceptible to plaque accumulation, making teenagers and adults easily develop gum inflammation.
  • Pregnant Women: Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that allow blood vessels to enlarge, making the gums tender to plaque and bacteria. This condition is known as ‘pregnancy gingivitis’ and may develop at any time during pregnancy, although it is most prevalent in the second trimester.
  • People with Poor Oral Hygiene: You will notice that when you fail to brush and floss your teeth, you are prone to develop gingivitis. Proper dental hygiene must be employed to effectively rid the mouth of the plaque that causes the gums to become irritated.
  • Smokers: Habits such as smoking are among the main causes of gingivitis. Not only do tobacco products hinder the healing of your gums, but the stains from these products on your teeth cover up the signs of gum disease at the initial stages.
  • Individuals with Certain Health Conditions: HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and other autoimmune diseases make you more prone to infections, including gingivitis.

If you are part of one of these groups, then it is essential for you to take extra special care of your teeth and gums to avoid getting gingivitis.

Probability of Being Affected by Gingivitis

A significant number of people suffer from gingivitis. Research in 2023 shows that approximately 51% to 91% of adults worldwide suffer from some type of gingivitis in their lifetime. The prevalence of gingivitis can be influenced by age, lifestyle, and availability of dental care, among other factors.

According to a study done in 2024, 48% of all American adults over the age of 31 have gum disease, and gingivitis is the most prevalent form. Nonetheless, gingivitis is among the most common forms of periodontal disease, but it usually goes unnoticed due to ignorance of the symptoms or inadequate visits to the dentist.

Though gingivitis is prevalent, it is preventable and reversible through good personal hygiene and regular dental check-ups. It is vital that you be careful about your teeth and gums because detecting early signs and symptoms could prevent the disease from worsening.

Symptoms and Signs of Gingivitis

The first signs of gingivitis are not obvious; however, some symptoms cannot be overlooked. Knowing these symptoms, you can seek treatment before the situation worsens.

The most common symptoms and signs of gingivitis include the following:

Red or Swollen Gums

 Healthy gums should be bright red or pink and not be soft to the touch. However, if you have gingivitis, your gums may bleed while flossing or brushing, appear red and swollen, and feel tender to the touch.

Bleeding Gums

 Inflammation of the gums may also be indicated by the fact that your gums bleed when you floss or brush your teeth. While some bleeding may be expected, especially if you are just beginning to floss, if you bleed all the time, that is not normal, and you should consult your dentist about it.

Bad Breath

 Halitosis, or chronic bad breath, is caused mainly by bacteria in the mouth and is a symptom of gingivitis. You can have bad breath if you forget to brush overnight. If you have halitosis, you brush your teeth and still have bad breath.

Receding Gums

 In more severe stages, your gums may begin to recede from your teeth, forming pockets filled with bacteria that can infect your gums further.

Tender or Sensitive Gums

 If you have gingivitis, your gums will be tender when touched due to the inflammation of the gum region.

Plaque and Tartar Buildup

Plaque is not easily noticeable, and you may have it but do not know it; however, if you have tartar, it will be a hard, yellow material on your teeth, especially at the gum line.

If you develop any of these symptoms, you should see your dentist for a checkup and a cleaning. If diagnosed early, gingivitis can be treated to avoid developing severe gum diseases.

Medicines that Could Cause Gingivitis

Some drugs can cause gingivitis either because they decrease the amount of saliva or because they compromise the health of your gums. Saliva is essential for oral health as it rinses any debris and bacteria from your mouth and teeth and neutralizes the acids produced by bacteria. The chances of developing gum diseases are high when these medications affect the normal physiological process.

Some common medications that may lead to gingivitis include the following:

  • Antihistamines: Drugs prescribed for allergy usually have side effects of decreasing saliva production, which results in dry mouth and inflammation of the gums.
  • Antidepressants: Some of the antidepressants have side effects, which could include dryness of the mouth, causing gum problems.
  • Anticonvulsants: Some medications may cause gum overgrowth and inflammation, including phenytoin, a drug used to control seizures
  • Immunosuppressants: The drugs administered after an organ transplant, such as corticosteroids, make the gums vulnerable to being inflamed or infected.
  • Chemotherapy Drugs: Tumors and cancer treatments can suppress the immune system, making the gums susceptible to gingivitis and other infections.
  • Calcium Channel Blockers: These are drugs administered to those with high blood pressure, and their side effect is the overgrowth of the gum tissues, which makes it difficult to maintain cleanliness and could lead to gingivitis.

If you take this medication, you should maintain a good oral hygiene routine and visit your dentist regularly to monitor your gum health. Your dentist will advise you on oral care and use and help you manage the medication's side effects.

How Contagious Gingivitis Can Be

Gingivitis does not make you infectious like a cold or flu; it is not airborne. Nevertheless, bacterial-causing gingivitis can spread from one person to another through saliva.

This implies that if you and another person use the same spoon, kiss or even take turns drinking from the same glass, they are likely to develop oral bacteria in the mouth. Although these bacteria alone do not cause gingivitis, they contribute if you have other risk factors, such as poor oral hygiene.

If a close relative has gingivitis, you are advised to rinse your mouth regularly and not touch your mouth with a spoon or fork used by the sick person. Therefore, the only way you can guard yourself against gingivitis at any time is to brush and floss your teeth, go for regular dental checkups, and make good oral hygiene practices your lifestyle.

Diagnosis of Gingivitis

Gingivitis is generally easy to diagnose, and the dentist may be able to diagnose it from a simple physical examination. A dentist will check for signs of inflammation of the gums, including redness and swelling. and the depth of the periodontal pockets and the spaces between the gum and the teeth. The diagnosis of gingivitis goes through the following key steps:

  • Dental Exam: To search for signs of inflammation and accumulation of plaque.
  • Review of Medical History: Your dentist will ask about your lifestyle to explain your oral hygiene and determine the causes of gum problems.
  • X-rays: Your dentist will use a dental X-ray to evaluate the periodontal bone loss around your teeth in case of periodontitis.
  • Plaque and Tartar Assessment: Your dentist will also assess the degree of plaque and tartar buildup because they are the leading culprits of gingivitis.

After the examination, the dentist will recommend a course of action to reverse gingivitis and retain gum health.

Treating Gingivitis

Gingivitis can be managed by professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar; then you have to brush twice daily, floss, and use antimicrobial mouthwash. Also, diet and other changes in your behavior, such as stopping smoking, could reverse your gingivitis. You should also attend your follow-up checkups so your dentist can check your progress.

Find a Northridge Dental Care Expert Near Me

Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that, if not treated in time, can cause severe problems with teeth. Knowing what gingivitis is, the factors that lead to its development, the indicative signs, and the ways to control the disease will help you maintain healthy gums and teeth.

Gingivitis can be prevented or treated by attending dental checkups, cleaning, brushing, and flossing regularly.  If you observe redness or swelling of the gums, you should seek the services of an experienced dentist.

At Northridge Advanced Dentistry, we have dentists ready to provide comprehensive oral care. We employ the latest technology to ensure that we detect any dental problem you may have in its initial stages.

If you are in Northridge and want to prevent or treat dental complications such as gingivitis, contact us today at 818-701-3010 to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists.