What Causes Inflamed Gums?

Gum is one of the periodontal tissues (gum, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, cementum). It is directly exposed to the oral cavity and can be seen directly. It is composed of keratinized epithelium and connective tissue. Tooth root. Gingival disease is a disease limited to the gingival tissue. The most common of these is chronic gingivitis, also known as marginal gingivitis and simple gingivitis. It belongs to "gingivitis related to plaque only" and is plaque-like The most common disease in inflammation. The inflammation of the gums is mainly located in the free gingiva and the gingival papilla. It is also known as gingivitis. It can occur in children 3 to 5 years old, and the prevalence and severity gradually increase with age, reaching a peak in puberty. Gingivitis is slightly more common in men than women. Developing countries and regions are higher than economically developed countries.

Basic Information

Visiting department: Department of Oral Medicine
Common causes: Dental plaque accumulated in the gingival-tooth-tooth joints and its harmful substances have long-term effects on the gums, causing inflammation.

Common symptoms: Gingival bleeding, local itching, swelling, discomfort and bad breath.
Contagious: no

Causes of gingivitis

Plaque and harmful substances accumulated in the gingival and dental junctions have long-term effects on the gums, causing inflammation. The presence of tartar, poor restorations, food impaction, crowded tooth dislocation, and mouth breathing increase the accumulation of plaque and Inflammation of the gums. The proportion of cocci in the main pathogenic bacteria decreased when healthy, and the proportion of motile bacteria and Borrelia increased. Gram-negative bacteria increased significantly. Actinomyces, digestive streptococcus, Fusobacterium nucleus, and Przewalskii were the dominant bacteria.

Clinical manifestations of gingivitis

1. Conscious symptoms: Gingival bleeding usually occurs when brushing or biting hard objects. Some patients may feel symptoms such as local itching, swelling, discomfort, and bad breath.
2. Local manifestations of free gingiva and gingival nipples are bright red or dark red. The inflammation and hyperemia of severe patients can spread to the attached gingiva; The color disappears and the surface is bright; the gums become soft and fragile, lacking elasticity, and sometimes they can also become hard and thick; gingival sulcus exploration can reach more than 3 cm; light exploration of gingival sulcus can bleeding; increased exudate in gingival sulcus.

Gingivitis diagnosis

The diagnosis is mainly based on the main clinical manifestations. There are obvious plaque, calculus accumulation, and other plaque retention factors in the tooth surface near the gingival margin.

Differential diagnosis of gingivitis

1. And early periodontitis: whether there is loss of attachment and alveolar bone resorption is the key to distinguish the two, and it is necessary to take X-rays at any time to confirm the diagnosis.
2. Gingival bleeding caused by hematological diseases: Hematological diseases such as leukemia, thrombocytopenic purpura, hemophilia, aplastic anemia and gingival bleeding can be related to blood system examinations to help rule out these diseases.
3. Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis: In addition to spontaneous bleeding of the gums, necrotic ulcerative gingivitis also has necrosis of the gingival papilla and marginal gingiva, and the patient's pain is more obvious.
4. AIDS-related gingivitis This disease is one of the earlier oral symptoms of people with HIV infection. It can be seen clinically that the free gingival margin is a clear fiery red linear congestion band, called gingival linear erythema, and the attached gingival can be a little erythema, bleeding after brushing or spontaneous bleeding. After the local irritants were removed, the congestion of the gums did not subside. Serology can help confirm the diagnosis.

Gingivitis Treatment

1. Local treatment removes the cause, cleansing calculus with cleansing, controlling plaque, and correcting all factors that cause plaque retention and irritation of the gums. The inflammation of the gums can disappear within a few days to 1 week, and collagen fibers in connective tissue Newborn, the color, shape and quality of the gums returned to normal.
2. Topical medications: When the inflammation in the gums is severe, topical medications can be used: 1% hydrogen peroxide solution and 0.12% ~ 0.2% chlorhexidine (chlorhexidine) and iodine preparations.
3. Systemic administration For patients with gingivitis without systemic complications, antibiotics should not be used systemically.