Dangerous complications of gingivitis

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Nguyen Khanh Nam - Doctor of Odonto-Stomatology - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Nha Trang International General Hospital.

Gingivitis is a common condition that many people have, so it is easy to lead to subjective and not timely treatment. Gingivitis if left for a long time can lead to complications leading to tooth loss and dangerous damage to the patient's health.

Gums have the job of hugging the teeth to protect the sensitive tissues underneath, preventing bacteria from entering and damaging the teeth.
Gingivitis, also known as gingivitis, is an acute or chronic inflammatory condition that occurs in the soft tissue around the teeth. This lesion is only localized in the gum area, not affecting the surrounding area such as alveolar bone, periodontal ligament or tooth bone.

A person has healthy gums when the gums will be light pink, no swelling, no bleeding. So, when inflamed, the gums will be light red or dark red, swollen red or enlarged, the gums are loose and elastic, easy to bleed, have plaque and tartar, and the mouth has a bad smell.

The main causes of gingivitis include:
Incorrect oral care In the process of eating, if not properly cleaned, food residues will remain between the teeth. Cleaning plaque and tartar in the mouth will create conditions for bacteria to exist and grow. Bacteria will easily attack to the root of the tooth, producing enzymes that destroy the connection of the epithelium between the gums and teeth, causing gingivitis.
Decreased salivation due to drug treatment There are many types of oral drugs, especially if the patient is taking some anti-depressants, diuretics, histamines... causing dry mouth, reducing saliva production. Insufficient saliva secretion will cause plaque and tartar to accumulate, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gingivitis.
Unscientific diet Eating a lot of sweet foods, or using foods that are too hot or too cold, using alcohol such as alcohol, smoking, etc. will easily cause plaque on the teeth, creating favorable conditions. favorable conditions for the progression of gingivitis.
Diabetes Most people with diabetes are prone to severe periodontal disease. The reason is that when blood sugar is not well controlled, the risk of gingivitis is very high. Because high blood sugar increases pressure on blood vessels, and at the same time reduces the ability to transport nutrients to the gum tissue, making the gums weaker and susceptible to infection.

When gingivitis, if not treated promptly, the patient may experience the following complications:
4.1 Periodontitis If gingivitis is not treated early, the disease will turn to periodontitis, with the following symptoms The following symptoms appear:
The gums bleed on their own, even without any irritation. The gums are red and swollen, and in many cases there is pus. Breath is smelly. The tissue of the gums becomes loose. Loose, displaced teeth make the teeth spread out, the function of eating and chewing is reduced. Do not leave gingivitis for a long time because if left untreated for a long time, it will make gingivitis worse, the treatment will become more complicated and costly. Without proper treatment, the patient can also lose their teeth. Not only that, gingivitis is also the cause of many other dangerous diseases such as: jawbone loss, risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, sepsis, risk of premature birth or low birth weight in pregnant women.

4.2 Losing teeth Because of being too subjective and neglecting to take care of their gums, many people with gingivitis face the risk of losing their teeth. Gingivitis in the severe stage leads to periodontitis, which in turn will make the teeth loose due to alveolar bone resorption and ligamentous stretching around the teeth.
Loss of teeth is the most severe gingivitis complication that many people fear. To avoid this problem, it is now possible to use the method of implanting dentures as soon as possible, in which the Implant method to restore the entire root and crown is highly appreciated.
If the state of missing teeth for a long time also causes serious consequences such as:
Difficulty chewing, poor appetite, creating a feeling of loss of appetite, the body lacks essential nutrients, increasing the risk of diseases gastrointestinal (stomach pain, colitis , constipation). Premature aging due to tooth loss causes a change in facial appearance, sagging skin around the mouth. Loss of jaw bone because there is no stimulating chewing force, it will be gradually dissipated over time. If you want to plant teeth, it requires bone grafting, the more complicated the sinus lift, the longer it takes to treat. Adversely affecting the remaining teeth, the teeth opposite the missing teeth may protrude or hang down, the adjacent teeth are easily shaken, increasing the risk of losing more teeth. The case of missing front teeth is also easy to cause loss of aesthetics, low self-esteem in communication, and incorrect pronunciation.

4.3 Pneumonia In case of severe gingivitis and lung problems, the patient will breathe bacteria from the oral cavity into the lungs, increasing the risk of pneumonia. This is a rather dangerous complication if gingivitis is not treated completely.
Gingivitis can be cured quickly if detected and treated early. Therefore, when detecting any abnormal symptoms in the oral area, it is necessary to immediately go to a reputable clinic and hospital for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible, to avoid delaying the treatment. The treatment becomes more complicated and difficult, adding a lot of costs.
Because it is a common disease, most people do not get timely and definitive treatment when they have water inflammation, leading to many dangerous complications, the most worrying is tooth loss.
Causes of gingivitis due to:
Improper oral care. Reduce salivation Improper nutrition Diabetes The most dangerous complication of gingivitis is periodontitis, tooth loss, premature aging due to tooth loss, pneumonia
Vinmec International General Hospital with musculoskeletal system With modern facilities, medical equipment and a team of experts and doctors with many years of experience in medical examination and treatment, patients can completely rest assured to examine and treat gingivitis at the Hospital.