There are 36 million people living with periodontitis (gum disease) in the United States. Gingivitis is the mildest form of this condition, but left untreated, it can lead to conditions that can wreak havoc on your body. Your mouth and body are intrinsically connected -- one affects the other and vice versa.

What Is Gingivitis, Anyway?

This form of gum disease is generally caused by lack of proper oral hygiene, which creates plaque buildup. Plaque is that sticky, invisible film found on your teeth. This is a bacteria that if allowed to stay on your teeth will harden into tartar. This is nearly impossible to remove with just your toothbrush. This is a hotbed of bacteria.

Plaque irritates your gums and will cause infection. Your body then catapults into an immune response to attack these aggressive invaders. Your gums get caught in the middle and become inflamed.

What’s worse is periodontal bacteria can enter your blood stream and make its way to all of your major organs to cause even more trouble. Research indicates this can possibly:

- Lead to heart disease
- Up your chances for stroke
- Increase the odds that a woman will have a preterm, low birth weight baby
- Aggravate those with already comprised health:
- Diabetes
- Respiratory disease
- Osteoporosis

Warning Signs

If it wasn’t already taken, gingivitis would be called the silent killer. At this stage in the progression of periodontal disease, there is very rarely any pain. More likely are:
- Soft, swollen, red gums
- Gums that bleed at the slightest bit of pressure
- Color change of the gums from pink to dark red
- Pink toothbrush (and not the toothpaste)

How Do I Get It?

Inadequate oral hygiene is the number one cause of gingivitis. Here are some other conditions that may cause, or worsen, gingivitis:
- Medication -- can inhibit body’s production of saliva, which has a cleansing effect on your teeth
- Viral and fungal infections
- Disease
- Hormonal changes -- pregnancy
- Poor nutrition
- Weakened immune system

How Do I Get Rid of Gingivitis?

Your dentist can extinguish this ugly disease. A dental cleaning will remove all that tartar and plaque. A deep cleaning can generally fix the problem for good if you continue to practice good oral hygiene (brush twice a day, floss daily and use anti-bacterial mouthwash).

Gingivitis, in this moderate form, is completely reversible! Take care of your teeth, and they’ll take care of you. If you’re struggling with this nasty pest of a disease, call your dentist.

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