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Causes of Gingivitis

Posted on 4/12/2021 by Weo Admin

Gingivitis is one of the most common types of dental diseases that causes inflammation, swelling and redness in the gums. It affects your gingiva, which is the part of the gum located at the base of your teeth.

Although gingivitis is a mild periodontal disease, it can eventually transform into a much serious kind of gum disease called periodontitis that can result in tooth loss if you don't treat it in time.

Poor oral hygiene is the most common cause of gingivitis that further leads to plaque formation on the teeth. However, there are many other causes of gingivitis as well. Take a look.

Plaque Turning Into Tartar

Plaque is a sticky bacterial film that forms on the surface of the teeth when the components of the food you eat interact with the bacteria in your mouth. If plaque isn't properly removed from the teeth through regular brushing, it hardens and turns into tartar. The latter is even more difficult to remove because it serves as a protective shield for the bacteria in the mouth.

Hormonal Changes

Hormones in the body tend to change due to various processes such as menopause, pregnancy, and puberty, for instance. These hormonal changes cause your gingiva to become super sensitive, increasing the risk of gingivitis.

Smoking

We all know smoking is bad for the teeth anyway, but it can also particularly cause gingivitis. When you smoke, you increase the risk of gum disease and inflammation because it causes your gums to become sensitive. So, the more you smoke, the higher the risk of gingivitis and other dental diseases.
There are many other risk factors of gingivitis, such as:

•	age
•	diseases like HIV, cancer, and diabetes
•	poor diet
•	dry mouth
•	certain fungal and viral infections
•	family history

It is extremely important to treat gingivitis during the initial stages in order to prevent it from transforming into serious gum disease.
At Everwell Dentistry, Dr. Embree and Dr. Heys can help you understand how to take proper care of your teeth in order to keep your teeth and gums perfectly healthy.

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Everwell Dentistry, 2340 E. Stadium Blvd, Suite 7 Ann Arbor, MI 48104 • (734) 973-0000 • everwelldentistry.com • 5/14/2025 • Key Phrases: dentist Ann Arbor MI •