Gingivitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

What Is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease. It's characterized by inflammation of the gums due to plaque buildup around your teeth and around the gumline. If left untreated, gingivitis can develop into a more severe form of gum disease known as periodontitis — a major cause of tooth loss in adults.

Gingivitis is often painless, so if you exhibit any signs or symptoms, be sure to visit your dental professional for a proper assessment and to determine a course of treatment. Thankfully, gingivitis is reversible and preventable with the right oral hygiene routine.

Later in this article, we'll discuss what makes up a good oral hygiene routine. For now, let's discuss what causes gingivitis.

Gingivitis Causes

Plaque

The root cause of gingivitis is plaque buildup on your teeth and around your gumline.

Plaque is a sticky, colorless (or pale yellow) biofilm that can form on your teeth within hours. The bacteria in plaque release toxins that trigger an inflammatory response in your gums. Separately, these bacteria also produce acids that can break down tooth enamel and lead to cavities.

If it's not removed, plaque can harden and form a more permanent substance known as tartar. Tartar can only be removed by a dental professional. Plaque, on the other hand, can be removed at home by brushing, flossing, and rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash.

Gingivitis is highly preventable if you maintain a good (and consistent) oral hygiene routine.

Poor Oral Hygiene

Since your oral hygiene routine plays such a major role in preventing gingivitis, the things you do (or don't do) to keep your mouth and teeth clean can cause gingivitis.

If you have poor oral hygiene, plaque will continue to build up on your teeth and eventually develop into gingivitis, periodontitis, and more serious issues.

Smoking

Smoking can cause a lot of damage to your mouth, gums, and teeth. It hinders your body's ability to fight infection, reduces blood flow to your gums, prevents tissue repair, and dries out your mouth.

Basically, smoking hinders many of your body's defenses against gingivitis and makes it much harder for your body to control plaque buildup on your teeth and gums.

Poor Nutrition

Poor nutrition is another common cause of gingivitis. Without the right vitamins and minerals in your diet, your body can't control the plaque buildup that starts the gingivitis ball rolling.

The sugary, starchy foods and beverages we all love serve as an energy source for plaque bacteria and give it a sticky place to gather.

Thankfully, there are some simple ways to create a healthy diet that limits plaque buildup.

Certain Medications

Some medications can increase the likelihood that you'll develop gingivitis by creating conditions in your mouth that lead to problems. For example, certain medications disrupt saliva production and prevent your body from naturally removing plaque from your teeth.

If you think your medication(s) might be contributing to your gingivitis, talk to your doctor about trying something different.

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes can increase the risk of gingivitis.

Both males and females are susceptible to these changes, but females are more likely to experience this issue since they can go through three major hormonal shifts in their lives (puberty, pregnancy, and menopause).

Gingivitis Symptoms

Swelling

Healthy gums are typically firm and slightly stippled. Gingivitis causes your gums to swell up and feel tender.

Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums are another common symptom of gingivitis. This symptom is especially noticeable after brushing and flossing. Because the gums are inflamed, they may bleed easily upon contact.

Discoloration

When healthy, your gums often appear pink. But, with gingivitis, your gums may become discolored and appear red or purplish-red.

Bad Breath

When plaque bacteria build up on your teeth and gums, it can release a foul-smelling gas that manifests as bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth.

Gingivitis Treatment and Prevention

Stick to a Good Oral Hygiene Routine

As we've mentioned, a good oral hygiene routine is the foundation for treating and preventing gingivitis.

• Brush your teeth with an electric toothbrush at least twice a day to remove more plaque than a manual brush.
• Use a toothpaste containing stannous fluoride, such as Crest Pro-Health. Stannous fluoride is an effective antibacterial agent that helps fight plaque and treat gingivitis.
• Floss at least once a day to remove more plaque and debris from tight spaces.
• Rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash.

Stick to this routine to treat any gingivitis symptoms and to prevent those symptoms from coming back once they're gone.

Visit Your Dentist

One of the best ways to treat and prevent gingivitis is to visit your dentist at least twice a year. During those visits, you'll receive a professional cleaning that removes the plaque and tartar that lead to gingivitis, periodontitis, and other serious dental issues.

You'll also receive an oral health checkup that can help identify small problems before they become big problems.

Stop Smoking

If you smoke, do your best to quit. Doing so in combination with a good oral hygiene routine can reduce the likelihood of developing gingivitis.

Avoid Sugary, Starchy, and Acidic Foods and Drinks

It's beneficial to limit your intake of sugary, starchy, and acidic foods and beverages, as those give the plaque bacteria in your mouth a huge boost.

That doesn't mean you can't have an occasional sweet treat but, when you do, brush your teeth soon after eating to remove the sugary fuel that can lead to gingivitis.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Build a diet with a good balance of the following foods:

• Lean protein
• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Whole grains
• Healthy fats

Improve Your Oral Care Routine with Oral-B

When brushing your teeth, make it your goal to remove as much of the plaque that leads to gingivitis as possible. To do that, consider switching from a manual toothbrush to an electric toothbrush, like one from the Oral-B iO Electric Toothbrush Series.

These electric toothbrushes use micro-vibrating bristles and dentist-inspired round brush heads to remove up to 100% more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush. With smart pressure sensors, custom modes, and guided brushing, they can help keep your teeth clean and support gum health.