Causes of Gingivitis and Gum Disease

There are several causes and forms of gum diseases. One of which is Gingivitis, a disease which is common to occur due to the buildup of plaque on the gumline. When one fails to brush and floss properly, the plaque builds up and produces toxins that can irritate the gum tissues. Fortunately, at the early stage of gum bleeding, the damage can be reversed. But prevention is always better than cure, and you can prevent gum disease by avoiding the things that cause it in the first place. Let’s look at some of the things that cause Gingivitis.

 Poor Oral Health Care 

The most common cause of Gingivitis is plaque buildup on teeth, which is caused due to poor oral health care. It is imperative to maintain good oral health, such as brushing and flossing twice a day and rinsing the mouth with an effective mouthwash regularly.

 Foods That Cause Gum Disease and Nutritional Deficiency 

Consuming the right kind of food with proper nutritional value is as important for your gums as it is for your health. And one of the most effective is food with Vitamin C, if you do not get enough of it, it can be very harmful to your health, especially your gums. An ideal diet if you have gum problems should be high in fiber containing fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and loads of water.

So, what causes gingivitis? The answer is the foods that you eat play a major part in causing gum diseases. Cutting down some of these food items may help in preventing it.

 #1: Ice Cream 

Frozen foods, especially ice cream, have high amounts of sugar, which can damage your gums. In addition to it, ice cream's chilled temperature can irritate the gums and cause inflammation. Both can eventually lead to gingivitis.

 #2: Acidic Foods 

While tomatoes and oranges are healthy in many ways, they are also acidic in nature. Consuming them in higher amounts can erode your gums while causing tooth decay.

 #3: Bread 

White bread is full of starch, which is made from white flour. And when you chew bread, the saliva breaks down its starches into sugar. This gummy paste-like substance of the bread sticks between your teeth, which gives rise to plaque. Thus, consuming bread can be one of the reasons for your gum problems that further causes gingivitis.

 Habits That Cause Gum Diseases — Smoking 

It’s not just foods that can cause gum diseases. Even your lifestyle habits can have a great impact on your oral and overall body health. Smoking weakens your immune system, and it releases various toxins in your mouth that further weakens your gums. Thus, it gets difficult to fight off the gum infection. Once your gums have been damaged due to smoking, it also becomes harder for them to heal. It also interferes with the normal functioning of your gum's tissue cells. When you smoke cigars or cigarettes, or chew tobacco, you have a higher chance of gum diseases and bad breath.

 Additional Reasons  

There are various other reasons that might cause gingivitis and gum diseases, like hormonal shifts, pregnancy, HIV, etc. Here’s more on such causes.

•  Hormonal Shifts 

During pregnancy and menstrual cycles, the hormones in your body fluctuate, which can make your gums vulnerable to various health problems and gum diseases like gingivitis. While being pregnant does not mean that you will automatically start having dental problems. But still, during this time, you should take better care of your gums. Inflamed, irritated gums, which are red and puffy or bleed when brushing or flossing, are some of the unusual things you would least want during pregnancy.

•  Prescription Meds 

Some medications may have a side effect on your saliva flow and production. This can lead to a dry mouth where germs rapidly spread. You can ask for your doctor’s advice if you experience gum issues when consuming the medications.

•  Crooked Teeth 

The toothbrush often cannot reach the gaps between the crooked teeth, making these gaps the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and plaque buildup. This accumulation of plaque is bound to cause gingivitis in the long run.

•  Family History 

Not all gum problems are because of your lifestyle. Some gum problems like periodontitis can be genetic as well. If there has been a history of your family with it, chances are you may have it too. See your dentist as you may be at a higher risk of these germ diseases.

 Why LISTERINE^® Products? 

Gingivitis, caused by buildup of plaque on the teeth, is the gum disease that can be observed in people with poor oral hygiene. Prevention of the disease comes down to maintaining a basic, daily routine of flossing, brushing teethtwice and mouthwash. As per research, the brushing & flossing combo reaches only 25% of your mouth^. For a thorough rinse, you need to use an ADA (American Dental Association) accepted mouthwash, like LISTERINE^®. Formulated with four Essential Oils (Thymol, Eucalyptol, Menthol and Methyl Salicylate) that are known for their anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, one can see three times*healthier gums and a reduced gum problem in two weeks**.

^{*Vs. mechanical methods with regular use}

^{**When used as per the usage instructions mentioned on pack. Individual results may vary. Based on Clinical Study conducted to determine activity of Listerine mouthwash for Modified Gingivitis Index.}

^{^ Source: *J Dent Res 1991; 70:1528-30"}

This information is intended to generate awareness amongst the users of oral care hygiene products. It is always recommended to seekadvice from your dentist or other qualified health care provided for any diagnosis or treatment.