Gingivitis Dr Rob Hicks Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums. It's usually caused by poor dental hygiene where plaque builds up at the place where the gums and teeth meet, irritating the gums.

In this article

What causes it? What are the symptoms?

Who's affected? Can it be prevented?

What's the treatment?

Although poor dental hygiene is the main cause of gingivitis, other things increase the risk of it developing, including:

• Injury to the gum
• Pregnancy
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Smoking
• Stress
• Poor nutrition
• Side-effects of certain drugs
• Problems such as rough or misaligned teeth

Symptoms of gingivitis include:

• Gum swelling and redness
• Easy bleeding, particularly when the teeth are brushed
• Tenderness when the gums are touched

Complications of untreated gingivitis include receding gums, chronic periodontitis, infection or abscess, trench mouth and loss of teeth.

Most people experience some degree of gingivitis at some time in their life, although some people are more genetically susceptible than others. It usually develops during puberty.

Good oral hygiene, regular dental checks, not smoking, eating a healthy diet and keeping stress under control help to reduce the risk of gingivitis occurring.

Treatment of gingivitis aims to reduce gum inflammation. This may involve professional teeth cleaning by a dentist or hygienist, education about daily dental hygiene methods and the repair of any dental problems if these are contributing to the problem.

Underlying medical problems should also be treated.

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in April 2008