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When you or your child has bad breath, it can be from food, a side effect of medication, or a symptom of a bigger problem, like gum disease. Otherwise known as the earliest stage of gum disease, Gingivitis is one of the leading causes of tooth loss for adults. For kids, it can cause red, swollen or sore gums that bleed when brushed or flossed.
What is Gingivitis?
Gingivitis is a common and mild form of gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) that develops when plaque, tarter, and bacteria build up on teeth. When gums are healthy, they are firm and pink and fit tightly around teeth. With Gingivitis, the gums are tender, red, bleed easily, and cause bad breath.
Untreated Gingivitis can lead to tooth loss and other serious dental conditions, like periodontitis, which is a more severe type of gum disease involving bone loss in your jaw.
What causes Gingivitis?
Poor dental hygiene is what causes Gingivitis. When teeth and gums are not properly taken care of, plaque forms on teeth. Plaque is a clear, sticky film that is made up of bacteria that form after eating starches and sugars. Plaque can only be removed at the dentist.
When plaque stays on teeth, it turns into hardened tarter under the gums and irritates them. The longer the tarter stays on the gums, the more swollen and prone to bleeding they are. It also causes bad breath, sensitivity to heat and cold, and tenderness or pain.
Treating Gingivitis
Good news! Gingivitis can be reversed with good daily dental habits, plus regular cleanings at the dentist. Regular brushing and flossing can get gums and mouth back on a healthy track.
Sources: Mouth Healthy, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Stanford Medicine