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Gingivitis: Symptoms and Causes

Gingivitis is one of the most common dental diseases among adults. Our dental care routine, eating habits, and overall hygiene show effects on our dental health. Though it is curable completely, it can cause serious concerns if neglected.  

Our present-day lifestyle and food habits are considered the cause of many dental problems. It is also believed that good dental care habits can reduce the severity of Gingivitis and reverse this disease of painful gums.  

What is Gingivitis? 

Gingivitis is a condition of the gums caused due to bacteria and plaque build-up on the teeth. A person with Gingivitis experiences inflammation, pain, and redness around the base of the teeth. Some may even have gum bleeding while brushing. If neglected, this can lead to serious dental problems like periodontitis.  

Improper dental care can cause this condition. Hence, regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups when necessary are some of the ways in which this dental condition can be cured or even reversed. Immediate dentist consultation and medication are advised to reduce the chances of severity. 

Symptoms of Gingivitis: 

This condition of the gums shows up in different ways. Depending upon the intensity of the disease the symptoms of Gingivitis may vary. Here are some of the indications that call for a dentist consultation. 

1. Bleeding Gums: Gingivitis can start off without pain or any kind of symptom. But as it gets severe, gums around the teeth start bleeding while brushing or flossing. This can also occur with a slight bit of pain and redness. 
2. Swollen Gums: Swollen gums are one of the common symptoms of this condition. The bacteria and the plaque build-up on the teeth lead to redness and swelling of the gums. This can even cause bleeding. Healthy gums are usually pink in color, but in this case, gums might turn red due to swelling. 
3. Bad Breath: Gingivitis is usually caused due to unhygienic oral care habits. Improper brushing and flossing can cause a lot of damage to the gums. The bacteria that causes the infection around the gums also lead to bad breath. It also eventually leads to an absence of taste.  

Causes of Gingivitis: 

The bacteria build up on the teeth due to improper oral care habits is the primary cause of the gum disease Gingivitis. Besides this, there are other reasons for this condition of gums.  

1. Illness: This condition of gums can be an indication or a result of certain illnesses like HIV, Cancer, etc.
2. Sometimes diabetes can also cause Gingivitis as it makes patients more prone to infections. Health problems like these that interfere with the immune system can cause this condition for the gums.
3. Hormonal changes: Gingivitis is caused by hormonal changes in women during their pregnancy, menopause, menstrual cycle, etc.
4. Medication: Some medications can affect the growth of the gum tissue. It causes swelling and leads to gingivitis. Drugs like Procardia and Adalat are a few examples that cause Gingivitis.  

Thus, Gingivitis is a serious dental concern that calls for immediate dentist consultation. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is always advised to consult a dentist for proper treatment. To keep oral health problems at bay, hygienic oral care and regular dental cleaning are essential. Since Gingivitis is totally curable and also reversible professional advice is necessary.