Gingivitis

The bacteria that stick in the dental plaque along the edge of your gums cause inflammation. The first stage of gingivitis is called gingivitis (NVVP, 2016). You can recognize gum inflammation from red, swollen gums, that lay loosely around the teeth. Furthermore, gums will bleed when you brush or use a toothpick. Inflamed gums are seldom painful, it is therefore important that you regularly visit a dentist or dental hygienist who checks your gums and, if necessary, performs appropriate treatments.

Parodontitis

If gingivitis is not treated in time, it will (in a limited group of people) pass into the second stage of gingivitis. This stage is called periodontitis. In periodontitis, the fibers and the jawbone are also inflamed. The fibers are affected, jawbone erodes and the pockets (a gap between the gums and the tooth / choke) become deeper. If one does not intervene in time, eventually there will be so little jawbone that the teeth will be too loose and can no longer be saved (NVVP, 2016). Treatment of periodontitis can stop the inflammatory process. It is therefore important that you regularly visit a dentist or dental hygienist who checks your gums and, if necessary, performs appropriate treatments.