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.