What is the difference between periodontitis and gingivitis?

Written by Fang Xiao
Dentistry
Updated on May 16, 2025
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Gingivitis is a condition that is limited to the gum tissues, whereas periodontitis not only affects the gum tissues but also damages the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Gingivitis merely involves inflammation of the gum tissues, displaying redness and swelling, as well as changes in the shape, color, and texture of the gums, including bleeding, hypertrophy, and a soft texture. Periodontitis involves not only inflammation of the gums but also leads to attachment loss, formation of periodontal pockets, resorption of the alveolar bone, and loosening or loss of teeth. Gingivitis does not involve bone resorption. In periodontitis, X-rays can show a reduced height of the alveolar ridge, presenting as either horizontal or vertical resorption. For the treatment of gingivitis, supragingival cleaning can completely cure it, allowing gum tissues to return to normal. The treatment of periodontitis, in addition to supragingival cleaning, requires subgingival scaling, root planing, and, when necessary, periodontal surgery to control inflammation, as the resorption of alveolar bone is irreversible.

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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.

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Written by Li Cui
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Can gingivitis be detected by taking an X-ray?

Gingivitis is some inflammatory changes in the gum tissue, which cannot be seen on an X-ray. Generally, an X-ray can reveal some changes in the anatomical structure of the teeth. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with gingivitis should seek diagnosis at a formal dental hospital. Treatment should be targeted based on the specific symptoms of the gums and should not be limited to other tests. A comprehensive consideration of multiple examinations can potentially enhance the repair of the teeth. For general gingivitis, it is appropriate to take some anti-inflammatory medication orally. In terms of diet, avoid spicy and irritating foods, and refrain from consuming foods that are too cold, too hot, or too hard, as these may irritate the gums.

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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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Dentistry
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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.

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Can gingivitis be treated by rinsing with salt water?

When suffering from gingivitis, it is appropriate to use some light saltwater for rinsing, but it is recommended that patients purchase more professional mouthwash for rinsing. This is because some specialized mouthwashes contain medicinal ingredients that can effectively control the bacteria in the mouth and have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. They can remove some oral bacteria and food residues, so it is advised that patients use mouthwash. Additionally, when patients experience gingivitis, while mouthwash is one aspect, the main focus should still be on anti-inflammatory treatment. Appropriate oral intake of anti-inflammatory drugs can have an effective treatment impact, such as commonly used drugs against anaerobic bacteria combined with some antibiotics, which can provide effective treatment.