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Home /
Quick Facts: Mouth and Dental Disorders /
Periodontal Diseases /
... /
Gingivitis /
IN THIS TOPIC

What is gingivitis?

What causes gingivitis?

What are the symptoms of gingivitis?

How do dentists treat gingivitis?

How can I prevent gingivitis?

OTHER TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER

Periodontal Diseases
Gingivitis
Periodontitis

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

Test your knowledge

Lip Sores, Lip Inflammation, and other Changes
The lips undergo changes with aging, as do all parts of the body. Some changes may indicate a medical issue; others are harmless. As people age, the lips tend to become thinner. Deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals can lead to inflammation of the lips (cheilitis), causing them to become red, cracked, painful, swollen, and/or scaly. Deficiency of which of the following vitamins or minerals can cause these symptoms? 
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Quick Facts

Gingivitis

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Last full review/revision Oct 2019| Content last modified Oct 2019
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Topic Resources

What is gingivitis?

The gingiva is your gums. Having "-itis" at the end of a word means inflammation. Gingivitis is when your gums become red, swollen, and bleed easily. Gingivitis that isn't treated can cause serious tooth and gum problems such as periodontitis.

  • Gingivitis is usually caused by not taking good care of your teeth

  • Taking certain medicines or having certain diseases also can cause gingivitis

  • Gingivitis is usually easily cured with good dental care

  • Brushing and flossing your teeth well can help prevent gingivitis

What causes gingivitis?

Almost all gingivitis is caused by plaque. Plaque is a sticky film full of germs that builds up on your teeth. The most common cause of too much plaque is:

  • Not brushing or flossing your teeth well

Plaque that stays on your teeth for more than a few days becomes hard. Hard plaque is called tartar. You can't remove tartar completely by brushing and flossing.

You can also get gingivitis from:

  • Taking certain medicines

  • Not getting enough vitamin C or niacin

  • Hormonal changes (for example, because of pregnancy or menopause)

  • Having an infection in your mouth

  • An impacted tooth (a tooth that hasn’t fully broken through your gum)

What are the symptoms of gingivitis?

Symptoms of gingivitis include:

  • Red gums (rather than pink)

  • Swollen gums

  • Gums that bleed easily

How do dentists treat gingivitis?

Dentists will:

  • Clean your teeth by scraping off the tartar and plaque

  • Treat the cause of your gingivitis

How can I prevent gingivitis?

You can help prevent gingivitis by:

  • Brushing and flossing your teeth each day

  • Using a mouthwash that helps lower plaque

  • Getting your teeth cleaned at the dentist every 6 to 12 months, or more often if needed

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
niacin
 NIACOR, NIASPAN
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© 2020 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA)
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