What Is Gingivitis And How Does It Develop?

When you attend routine dental exams, the dentist will check your gums for signs of gum disease. The first stage of this common disease is gingivitis, and this disease affects a lot of adults. If you have questions about gingivitis, you can talk to your dentist. Until then, here is an explanation of what gingivitis is and how it develops.

Gingivitis Is Gum Disease

The first thing to know is that gingivitis is gum disease. It is the first stage of this disease, which means it is not as serious as other stages. Gingivitis is still serious, though, and you should take it seriously if you find out you have it. If you do not have it, you might want to ask your dentist how to prevent it from occurring. With the right steps, you can prevent it.

When your gums develop gingivitis, it means that plaque from your teeth infiltrate the gum areas causing inflammation. This inflammation causes an infection in your gums, which leads to bleeding and irritation with the gums.

The Causes of Gingivitis

You might wonder how this happens in a person's mouth. For gingivitis to occur, a person may have left too much plaque on their teeth. Plaque naturally occurs in your mouth, but you can remove it through brushing, flossing, and rinsing. When you fail to provide the right treatments for your mouth each day, you might inadvertently leave too much plaque on your teeth. If this occurs, the plaque will move into the gum lines, causing gingivitis to form.

The Signs of Gingivitis

While many people do not realize they have gum disease, you can look for some common signs. If you see these signs, you might want to talk to your dentist about it. The first sign is bleeding when you brush or floss. If your gums bleed, this can indicate you have gum disease. Another sign is puffiness of your gums. If your gums look puffy or red, it can also be a sign of gum disease. Another sign is gum sensitivity. If you feel pain when you drink cold water or eat ice cream, you might have gum problems. The only way you can find out is by visiting a dentist.

A dentist can diagnose gingivitis if you have it. Dentists can also offer treatment options for it. If you have questions about this or other oral health issues, talk to a local dentist today.

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