Gum Disease: Gingivitis vs. Periodontitis

Gum disease is a serious problem that affects a lot of adults in the U.S. and around the world. In order to lower the chances of developing gum disease, it’s necessary to understand it to the best of your ability.

We’re here to help. In this blog post, we will be outlining the key differences and similarities between two forms of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis.

To begin, we will start by describing each form. We’ll start with gingivitis.

Gingivitis usually comes before periodontitis. Gingivitis can occur when bacteria in the plaque build up and cause your gums to become inflamed. You may notice a reddish color to your gums. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis.

Periodontitis is the much more serious form of gum disease. In cases of periodontitis, the inner layer of the gum and bone pull away from the teeth and form spaces, or pockets. Once these pockets exist, debris begins to collect within, which can lead to infection.

Periodontitis is extremely serious, and should be treated as soon as possible. Even though gingivitis is not as serious, it should still be treated as soon as possible, in order to lower the chances that it will progress into periodontitis.

To see a comparison of healthy gums vs. unhealthy gums, click here to watch a video from the American Academy of Periodontology.

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