Warning symptoms of gingivitis

The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital. Dr. Hien has more than 12 years of experience in the field of Odonto-Stomatology, especially in the treatment of dental pathology, orthodontics and dental prosthetics.

Gingivitis is a common disease worldwide, both adults and children are susceptible to it. Gingivitis not only causes pain, it also affects the patient's activities and communication.

The gums are responsible for protecting, covering and keeping the roots of the teeth strong. The dental organ consists of two components, the tooth and the periodontal organization. The periodontal organization includes the gums and the differentiated oral mucosa that hugs around the teeth. In the vestibular and lingual recesses, we clearly see the boundary between the gums and the cleft palate.
Medicine divides gums into free gums and sticky gums. The free gingiva is further divided into papillary and borderline gingiva. This is the part of the gums that hugs the neck of the tooth and creates a deep gap with the neck of the tooth called the gingival groove. Adhesive gums are the 1.5mm high gums that adhere to the root of the tooth above and the tooth surface below.
Normal gums are firm, light pink in color, no swelling, no bleeding, and fresh breath.

When bacteria in plaque or tartar linger in the mouth for a long time, it can cause gingivitis. These are the reasons that make the gums vulnerable, conditions for bacteria to invade and cause infection. Bacteria grow largely from plaque on teeth including plaque that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Within 24 hours, the plaque accumulated in the teeth, will harden and form tartar. With conventional oral hygiene measures, it is not possible to clean them, but need to use specialized dental equipment.
The longer plaque bacteria persist, the greater the severity they can cause. However, gingivitis is not dangerous, it only causes discomfort and loss of confidence in communication.
When we have gingivitis, our gums will be red and swollen. But because it is subjective, it will go away on its own, so we can easily ignore it and have no timely treatment. When the disease turns to bleeding gums, more severe, the teeth will fall out.
Children are the most susceptible to gingivitis, which is caused by children not actively cleaning their teeth regularly, flossing with toothpicks, biting nails, chewing hard foods, or teething.. ..

In the local stage of gingivitis, the gums will be swollen, red and easy to hurt and bleed on impact. Although this is the early stage of gingivitis, it can also make it difficult for you to eat and drink every day. Pain and discomfort when you eat or drink is not a pleasant feeling.
At the stage of periodontitis, our gums are easily inflamed, red, swollen, bleeding suddenly causing pain. Especially after brushing or flossing with a toothpick, the root or tip of the toothpick often has blood. If you often see blood in the gum area, we should see a dentist for a diagnosis and treatment measures.
Over time, the gums will be pulled back, exposing the roots of the teeth, looking very bad. The more severe the disease, the deeper these holes, the more severely damaged the gums and jawbone, the teeth that have no place to hold on will become loose and eventually fall out.

In many cases, bad breath is a sign of gingivitis. According to research, in Vietnam, up to 90% of people suffer from mild to high bad breath. The cause of bad breath is due to the bacteria, plaque accumulated for a long time on the teeth and gums, which will decompose and create an unpleasant odor. And patients with bad breath due to gingivitis are caused by pus at the roots of the teeth, making oral hygiene even more difficult and stubborn. Bad breath causes psychological loss of confidence, fear of communication in patients, even being shunned by people around.
Besides, there are wide gaps between teeth and gums. When the teeth are loose and fall out, the disease will become more serious. Gingivitis causes the structure around the teeth to be affected, the gums between the teeth gradually weaken and causes the phenomenon of receding gums, creating gaps between the roots. When the roots of the teeth are weak, the protective function of the gums is also lost and makes the teeth loose.
In children, depending on the condition as well as the severity of gingivitis, there are different symptoms. Most of the time, the baby's gums will be swollen, the gums are no longer pink as usual but turn abnormal, very sensitive, easy to bleed, especially when brushing or flossing. Gingivitis means that the baby has bad breath, loose teeth.
When the disease becomes more severe, there will be white patches or spots on the gums, the gums recede, exposing the roots of the teeth, even sores in the cheeks and gums.
In general, whether gingivitis occurs in both adults or children, it causes certain inconveniences. In addition to causing pain for the patient, gingivitis also makes the tooth root lose its protective function.
Vinmec International General Hospital with modern equipment and machinery and a team of dedicated and experienced doctors, patients do not have to worry about dental diseases.