{"id":8635,"date":"2026-10-16T14:01:29","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T14:01:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orallagos.pt\/?p=8635"},"modified":"2026-10-16T14:52:27","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T14:52:27","slug":"what-is-gingivitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orallagos.pt\/en\/what-is-gingivitis\/","title":{"rendered":"What is gingivitis? Causes, symptoms and prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Gingivitis almost always starts the same way: a thread of blood in the sink, on a morning like any other. You look at the toothbrush, shrug and assume you brushed too hard. The next day it happens again, and the explanation is a little less convincing.<\/p>

It is something we see often in the surgery, and it hardly ever causes pain. That is exactly why it is so easy to ignore for months. Your gums are warning you that something has changed in your mouth, and that warning is worth listening to while it is still simple to fix.<\/p>

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums caused by plaque building up along the gum line. It is the first stage of gum disease and differs from periodontitis because it has not yet affected the bone or the tissues that hold the teeth in place. Treated in time, it is completely reversible.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\tWhy gum health matters more than it seems\t\t\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When people talk about looking after their teeth, the focus is almost always on the teeth themselves: whether they are white, straight and free of decay.<\/p>

The gums come second, even though they support everything else. They are the tissue that keeps bacteria out and protects the bone in which each tooth sits.<\/p>

Healthy gums are pink and firm and do not bleed when you brush or floss. When they lose these characteristics, your body is signalling an imbalance.<\/p>

And, contrary to what many people think, no pain does not mean no problem. Inflammation can progress for months without causing discomfort, until the day it leaves damage that is harder to reverse.<\/p>

There is also a dimension that goes beyond the mouth. Scientific research has been linking chronic gum inflammation to other health conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Treating your gums early is therefore also a way of looking after the rest of your body.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\tWhat gingivitis is and how it develops\t\t\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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After every meal, an invisible film of bacteria, food debris and saliva forms on the teeth. This is what we call dental plaque.<\/p>

If it is not removed with good brushing, it starts to build up along the gum line and the bacteria release substances that irritate the tissue. The body responds with inflammation, and that inflammation is what we call gingivitis.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\tFrom plaque to tartar: how gingivitis sets in\t\t\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Within a few days, plaque that has not been removed mineralises and turns into tartar, a hard crust that no longer comes off with a toothbrush or floss. Tartar has a rough surface, attracts even more plaque and keeps the gums permanently irritated. Only a professional can remove it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\tWhy gingivitis is reversible\t\t\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The most important thing about gingivitis is this: once the cause is removed, the gums recover. At this stage there is no bone loss and no destruction of the supporting tissues. That is why early diagnosis makes such a difference to the outcome, and why it does not pay to put off an appointment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\tSymptoms of gingivitis: how to recognise the first signs\t\t\n\t\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Inflamed gums rarely hurt, and the symptoms of gingivitis are so subtle that they easily go unnoticed. The most common are:<\/p>