What Are the Symptoms of Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that causes redness and inflammation of your gingiva – the gum tissue at the base of your teeth. Knowing how to spot the early signs of gingivitis is important, so you can act quickly to help stop gum disease before things get more serious.
 

The good news is this common condition can be easily fixed.i A good home dental care routine of daily brushing and flossing, along with regular visits to the dentist, can help get rid of gingivitis and keep your gums healthy.ii Regularly check your mouth for the early signs of gingivitis so you can take action to treat them with a toothpaste such as parodontax Clean Mint, and take time to learn all about gingivitis.

What Are The Symptoms of Gingivitis?

While it’s sometimes possible to have gingivitis without any symptoms and the condition doesn’t usually cause pain, there are some classic signs to look out for when brushing and flossing your teeth.

Bleeding Gums

One of the signs of gingivitis is bleeding gums. Healthy gums don’t bleed, so if you spot blood when brushing or flossing your teeth this could be a sign of gum disease. Bleeding, along with swelling, is caused by a build up of plaque along the gum line and is a sign you are not brushing or flossing effectively enough.ii

Even if you only see blood occasionally, don’t ignore it as it could be a sign that you’re developing gum problems. If plaque is allowed to build up, it can lead to more severe gum disease or tooth decay. Did you know that good gum health can help with achieving good overall health?

Bad Breath

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, can be an embarrassing condition, but it could also be a sign that you’re developing gum disease.ii There are lots of reasons why you may have bad breath, but typically it’s the result of gases released by the bacteria that coat your gums, teeth and tongue. Bits of food can also get trapped in the teeth and start rotting – contributing to a bad odor.iii Removing this odor-causing bacteria with brushing and flossing should help resolve the problem.

Find out more about bad breath and your gums.

Swollen Gums

Healthy gums should be firm to the touch. If you have puffy or swollen gums it could be a symptom of gingivitis and a sign that you need to take better care of your gums.ii

Inflammation of your gums is the body’s way of alerting you to a problem – in this case signaling that your gums have become irritated by plaque bacteria. Plaque forms a sticky film over the teeth and gums.ii If it is allowed to build up around the tooth and gum line, your gums respond to the irritation by puffing up.

Gums Change Color

Everyone’s gums vary slightly in color but if yours are looking a darker or brighter red than usual, particularly around the gum line, this is a classic sign of gingivitis.ii The key is to be vigilant to change – you know your mouth and teeth better than most – so be on your guard for any noticeable changes either in overall gum color or in specific spots such as around the gum line.