What Exactly Is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is the medical term for the earliest stage of gum disease. It is the most common type of gum disease and can lead to more serious conditions. However, gingivitis is also the most treatable and preventable type of gum disease.

What Causes Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is caused by plaque buildup on your gums, which can occur if you don't have an adequate oral-health routine. Although plaque is naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth, it needs to be removed daily or it can build up to create toxins that lead to symptoms of gingivitis, along with tooth decay and even chronic bad breath.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Gingivitis?

The signs and symptoms of gingivitis are relatively easy to spot. They include the following:

Bleeding gums (especially when you brush and floss)
Tender, swollen gums
A receding gum line
Persistent bad breath
Loose teeth

How Do You Treat and Protect Against Gingivitis?

The best way to help get rid of gingivitis is to adopt a new oral-health routine beyond just brushing. This should include the following, twice a day, every day:

Flossing, which loosens and removes plaque between teeth and below the gum line
Brushing, which removes plaque on the teeth and gums
Using a rinse, which washes away the loose plaque while killing the germs that cause gingivitis

It's really just that easy. To learn more about why these habits work better together, click here.

Start with Crest Glide® Deep Clean Floss to Remove Plaque and Help Stop Gingivitis

Help keep gingivitis away with the combination of Crest Glide Deep Clean Floss, Crest®, and Crest Pro-Health™ toothpaste and rinse.

What Should Healthy Gums Look Like?

Healthy gums should be uniform in color with no discoloration at the gum line.

Stop Gingivitis

Gums with gingivitis will be more swollen and discolored, especially where the teeth and gums touch.

Start flossing for the health of your teeth. Learn the proper flossing method by watching our Flossing Demo.