Gingivitis is a common and mild form of gum disease (periodontal disease) that causes irritation, redness and swelling (inflammation) of your gingiva, the part of your gum around the base of your teeth. It's important to take gingivitis seriously and treat it promptly.
As the plaque builds and breeds bacteria, the gums can become puffy and may bleed when you brush, floss, or eat something firm. However, there are some other potential causes of red, swollen, or bleeding gums, including: Bleeding disorders. Hormonal changes in women, such as menopause, pregnancy, or menstrual cycles.
If left untreated, red gums can progress to irreversible gum disease (periodontal disease) and can cause bone loss around your teeth. Gum recession can also occur leading to tooth sensitivity and mobility as well as serious infection or hospitalization. Want to learn more about Oral Health?
The number one cause of red, swollen gums is gingivitis. Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease caused by poor dental hygiene. When you don't brush or floss regularly, bacteria and plaque builds up around the gums. The bacteria in plaque irritates the gums, causing a puffy, red appearance.
Some color changes warrant a trip to the dentist. If your gum color is red, it could be a sign of gum inflammation or gingivitis. This is usually caused by a build-up of plaque on the gum line and can be treated with regular brushing and flossing.
River Red Gums are large, single stemmed eucalypt trees. They can grow up to 45m tall but usually grow to 20–30m and they can live for 500–1000 years.
Red Gums: Red gums, or gums that are deeply pink, often indicate an infection. Bright red gums may be highly sensitive, and they may bleed when you brush and floss. Yellow Gums: A slight yellow tint or film on your gums indicates gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease.
In some cases, you may have periodontal inflammation even in the absence of bleeding. Only your dentist can tell after an examination whether gum disease has been completely treated or not.
If gingivitis is treated, the health of gums will be restored and long-term damage to the bone levels around your teeth prevented. However, and it's a big however, should it advance to periodontitis then the condition becomes irreversible (though it is manageable).
In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums can become swollen and red, and they may bleed. In its more serious form, called periodontitis, the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or even fall out. Periodontal disease is mostly seen in adults.
The most common cause of inflammation is gum disease, but poor oral hygiene, improper brushing or flossing, tobacco use, medical treatments, hormone changes, and irritation from dental appliances such as dentures or braces can also play a role.
Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. It's typically caused by poor brushing and flossing habits that allow plaque—a sticky film of bacteria—to build up on the teeth and harden. It starts with swollen, red, and bleeding gums.
Gingivitis and Gum Disease
Inflammation in the gums is linked to several different autoimmune disorders, including lupus, Crohn's disease, and scleroderma, among others. Gingivitis is a condition in which gums are inflamed and red; it's a precursor to gum disease.
Gum cancer, in particular, is easily confused with gum disease. Nonetheless, the former is characterised by patches or irregular growths on the gums. These are known as erythroleukoplakia when they are red and white, leukoplakia when they are white, and erythroplakia when they are red.
When treated early enough, gum disease is reversible. But if you've already lost bone around your teeth due to infection, the disease is too advanced to reverse. However, you can manage it with proper treatment and consistent, diligent oral hygiene.
Long-term stress is proven to weaken the immune system. This lowers your body's ability to fight infections. As a result, you have an increased risk of several dental issues, like bleeding and inflamed gums.
If you have gingivitis, which is the earliest form of gum disease, you'll likely notice inflamed, red, swollen, and bleeding gums. In this stage, the infection is still reversible. In contrast, periodontitis is a far more severe condition characterized by deep pockets that form in between teeth.
If you have mild gingivitis, it can take weeks or even months for it to turn into periodontitis. However, if you have severe gingivitis, it can progress into periodontitis in as little as a few days. This is why it is so important to see a dentist as soon as you notice any symptoms of gingivitis.
Can you still have gum disease even if your gums no longer bleed when brushing? The answer might just be that simple, especially if you brush and floss twice a day every day. Yes, you can brush too hard or too much. For some people, they put a little too much effort, or physical pressure, into brushing and flossing.
Gum disease is where the gums become red, swollen and sore, and bleed. It's very common, but it's important to get it checked by a dentist.
Healthy gums are light pink in colour, and appear turgid and without any bleeding. Whitish or dark colourations, or even bleeding, or the presence of or the presence of purplish gums are a symptom of disease or infection.
Pale gums may indicate that a person has anemia, which is often the result of an iron deficiency.