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

Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
Updated on January 30, 2025
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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 Li Cui
Dentistry
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Can gingivitis and bad breath be completely cured?

Halitosis, or bad breath, refers to odors emitted from the mouth or other air-filled cavities such as the nasal cavities, sinuses, and throat, which can significantly impact social interactions. It is advised that patients experiencing gum bleeding or bad breath visit a hospital for dental cleaning, which may include polishing and scaling to effectively remove dental plaque, tartar, and debris, thus eliminating most bacteria. For severe cases of bad breath, it is recommended to seek medical treatment at a hospital under the guidance of a doctor, as it is generally treatable. Patients are advised not to be overly anxious, feel inferior, or be stressed psychologically. Additionally, maintaining daily oral hygiene is crucial; it is reasonable to brush teeth at least twice a day, in the morning and evening, and to rinse the mouth after each meal. Using dental floss to clean between the teeth can help eliminate oral odors.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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What should I do about recurrent gingivitis?

Gingivitis is caused by not cleaning the mouth promptly after eating, with the presence of irritating factors around the teeth causing repeated outbreaks. For example, bleeding during brushing or eating. This situation requires teeth cleaning, which includes ultrasonic scaling to remove dental calculus and other basic causative factors. Only by removing the irritating factors and treating the cause, applying medicine around the gums and improving the bleeding condition, can the symptoms of gingivitis improve. If oral hygiene is not maintained after removal, over time, dental calculus or dental plaque can reattach around the teeth, leading to a recurrence of gingivitis.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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Can gingivitis be transmitted through kissing?

The patient presents with gingivitis, generally due to intrinsic causes. It could be caused by the patient's internal heat leading to inflamed gums, resulting in gingivitis and periodontitis. Typically, kissing does not lead to transmission because it is not a contagious disease. It is advised that the patient pays attention to their oral hygiene, regularly undergoes dental cleaning, and avoids causing other dental diseases. Gingivitis and oral ulcers do not spread through kissing. However, it is recommended that the patient seeks timely treatment and avoids kissing during this time. While it does not cause contagion, it can lead to the spread of some bacteria in the mouth, which may exacerbate the condition. Therefore, early treatment is advised, but there is no need for excessive worry.

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Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
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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.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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The Hazards of Gingivitis

Gingivitis refers to an inflammation of the gum tissues, commonly caused by not brushing teeth in time after eating, accumulation of food residues or dental plaque around the teeth, which over time forms tartar due to the calcification by saliva. This long-term irritation to the gum tissue leads to bleeding gums, including bleeding while eating or brushing teeth. It is necessary to get a timely dental cleaning, otherwise it can lead to periodontitis or even result in loose teeth, and potentially tooth loss. Therefore, the harm caused by gingivitis is significant. Once gingivitis occurs, it requires timely dental cleaning to remove tartar and other irritating factors to alleviate symptoms of gum bleeding, allowing the gums to return to a normal, healthy state.