{"id":114,"date":"2018-04-05T17:45:30","date_gmt":"2018-04-05T17:45:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.darbycreekdental.com\/blog\/?p=114"},"modified":"2025-09-29T16:11:36","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T16:11:36","slug":"gum-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.darbycreekdental.com\/blog\/gum-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"Gum Disease: The Difference Between Gingivitis and Periodontitis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-115\" src=\"https:\/\/www.darbycreekdental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/AdobeStock_102670382-300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"man covering mouth\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.darbycreekdental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/AdobeStock_102670382-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.darbycreekdental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/AdobeStock_102670382-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.darbycreekdental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/AdobeStock_102670382-1024x683.jpeg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>You might have heard a lot about how important it is to prevent gum disease. This condition endangers both your oral and overall health! However, not everyone understands exactly what gum disease is. They may not even know the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis, the two forms of gum disease. If you\u2019ve ever been confused about these terms, take heart! Here is a quick lesson on what they mean.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>Gingivitis \u2014 The First Stage of Gum Disease<\/h2>\n<p>Simply put, gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. It\u2019s basically just gum inflammation. Symptoms include swollen, tender gums and bleeding when you brush or floss. Gingivitis usually occurs because plaque builds up near the gum line and causes an infection in the area.<\/p>\n<p>Gingivitis isn\u2019t a serious condition, and it is usually fairly easy to reverse. You may just need to make some adjustments to your oral hygiene routine. For example, you might need to start using an antibacterial mouth rinse, be more thorough when you\u2019re brushing, and floss more often.<\/p>\n<p>If you suspect you have gingivitis, it\u2019s extremely important that you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.darbycreekdental.com\/preventive-dentistry.html\">visit your dentist<\/a>. They can give your mouth a thorough cleaning and provide you with personalized tips on how to take your oral hygiene routine to the next level. If you <em>don\u2019t <\/em>visit your dentist to receive proper care and advice, you could end up in big trouble. Your gingivitis may advance to periodontitis.<\/p>\n<h2>Periodontitis \u2014 Advanced Gum Disease<\/h2>\n<p>If gingivitis progresses far enough, it becomes periodontitis, which is a huge threat to your oral and overall health. Symptoms include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Red, swollen, and bleeding gums<\/li>\n<li>Persistent bad breath<\/li>\n<li>Severe gum recession<\/li>\n<li>Bone loss around the teeth<\/li>\n<li>Loose teeth<\/li>\n<li>Tooth loss<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Not only can periodontitis wreck your smile, but it can also wreak havoc across the rest of your body. When the bacteria from the infection in your gums sneaks into your bloodstream, it may contribute to cardiovascular disease, stroke, dementia, respiratory infections, and preterm birth.<\/p>\n<p>The proper treatment for periodontitis depend on the severity of the condition. In very bad cases, surgery may be necessary to clean out the infected area and reattach the gums to the teeth.<\/p>\n<h2>Preventing Gum Disease<\/h2>\n<p>According to a CDC study, almost half of Americans have some form of gum disease. If you don\u2019t want to be in that unfortunate half, it\u2019s important that you\u2019re diligent about taking preventive measures.\u00a0 Good oral hygiene and regular dental visits are the key ingredients for healthy gums, so be sure you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Brush your teeth twice a day, but be gentle. Aggressively brushing your teeth can cause gum recession.<\/li>\n<li>Floss daily. If you\u2019re new to this habit, your gums might bleed a little at first. Only start to worry if the bleeding persists after the first week or so.<\/li>\n<li>Limit your sugar intake in order to minimize plaque buildup in your mouth.<\/li>\n<li>Get a professional teeth cleaning at least twice a year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Gum disease is no joke! Please take steps to protect your periodontal tissue so you can enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles.<\/p>\n<p><strong>About Darby Creek Dental<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The three talented dentists in our office are passionate about protecting their patients\u2019 oral health. If you would like advice on how to care for your gums and teeth, or if it\u2019s time for a checkup, please <a href=\"https:\/\/www.darbycreekdental.com\/contact-us.html\">contact us<\/a> at 937-644-8822.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You might have heard a lot about how important it is to prevent gum disease. This condition endangers both your oral and overall health! However, not everyone understands exactly what gum disease is. They may not even know the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis, the two forms of gum disease. If you\u2019ve ever been confused [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Gum Disease: The Difference Between Gingivitis and Periodontitis<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Confused about gum disease? 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