Symptoms of gingivitis

Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
Updated on September 29, 2024
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Gingivitis is a common and frequently occurring disease. If it is not treated in time, it can lead to pulpitis, periodontitis, and even cause dental pain, necrosis, tooth loosening, and loss. When gingivitis occurs, the gingival tissues exhibit vascular congestion, leading to a change in the color of the gums from normal pink to dark red or purplish red. Additionally, symptoms of gingivitis include edema and a change in the appearance of the gums, which become looser and do not adhere tightly to the teeth. There may also be pain, increased fragility of the gums, and spontaneous bleeding, particularly noticeable during brushing and when biting hard objects.

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Why does gingivitis cause the gaps between teeth to become bigger?

If the patient has gingivitis, prolonged gingivitis is subject to chronic inflammatory stimulation, which can lead to the atrophy of gum tissue and is harmful to the health of the gum tissue. When gum tissue begins to atrophy, gaps between teeth may become larger. Therefore, it is advised for patients to maintain good oral hygiene daily to prevent chronic gingivitis from adversely affecting oral health. Furthermore, if gaps between teeth enlarge, prolonged development may lead to tooth loosening or loss. Hence, patients must pay attention to oral hygiene, rinse their mouth promptly after meals to remove food debris, and regularly get their teeth cleaned to remove tartar and plaque, which is beneficial for oral health.

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Written by Wang Ji Zhong
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What will happen if gingivitis lasts for a long time?

Gingivitis has a high incidence rate, and the initial symptoms are not obvious, which many people overlook. Gingivitis is caused by the presence of a large amount of dental plaque and tartar on the gums. Long-term bacteria can cause inflammation of the gums, resulting in swollen and painful gums. Severe cases may often experience bleeding gums. If not treated promptly, the inflammation can further develop into periodontal inflammation, causing periodontal atrophy. This leads to insufficient periodontal protection around the tooth roots, bleeding, loose teeth, and tooth loss, severely affecting health. Therefore, it is essential to treat gingivitis promptly and pay more attention to oral hygiene to maintain healthy teeth.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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What should I do if I have gingivitis?

Gingivitis is characterized by symptoms such as bleeding while eating or brushing teeth. Sometimes, bloodstains may be found on the pillow upon waking up, which are also signs of gingivitis. Gingivitis can sometimes cause pain while eating, necessitating timely and thorough treatment, which includes both initial and maintenance phases. The initial treatment involves removing irritants around the teeth, including tartar, dental plaque, or soft deposits around the gums, followed by medicated rinsing. After controlling gingivitis, it is necessary to enter a regular maintenance phase with check-ups every six months, and any existing tartar should be promptly removed.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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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.

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Written by Li Cui
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Should gingivitis be treated with hot compresses or cold compresses?

When patients experience gingivitis, this condition is generally related to inflammation within the body, a prolonged habit of poor diet leading to decreased immune function, resulting in inflammation of the gums. When gingivitis occurs, since it involves inflammation, it is generally recommended to apply cold compresses to relieve the pain somewhat; one should definitely not apply hot compresses as they might increase the local inflammation. It is advised that patients undergo appropriate medical treatment. They can take some anti-inflammatory drugs orally, such as Metronidazole or Tinidazole, or a combination with antibiotic anti-inflammatory drugs. If the pain is severe, one can also use antipyretic analgesics to alleviate local tooth pain. Most importantly, patients should develop good dietary and lifestyle habits.