Gingivitis Symptoms

The symptoms of gingivitis usually begin slowly. If you don’t pay much attention to your mouth, you may think they have appeared overnight. However, if you carefully check over your mouth when you brush and floss each night, you might see the beginnings of one or two symptoms at first. If your dental hygiene routine isn’t regular, then those symptoms could build faster. How do you know if you truly have a symptom of gingivitis or something else?

Redness and Swelling
One of the first signs of gingivitis is redness around the teeth. The gums will turn darker pink right near where they touch the tooth. If the gingivitis continues, the redness might spread and include a larger area of the gum. Once there is considerable redness, the gums can start to swell. The swelling may be constant or it may only happen some of the time. The swelling might happen after a meal if they get irritated. They could also swell after brushing if it is painful.

Bleeding Gums
Another early sign of gingivitis is bleeding gums. The gums will bleed after brushing or flossing, right near the gum line. Some gums are more sensitive than others and will bleed easier. Other gums might never bleed at all. If there is redness and swelling, it is still probably a good sign to go and get your mouth checked out by the dentist.

Painful Chewing
A more advanced symptom of gingivitis includes painful chewing. If the gums are very swollen and have been bleeding after brushing, then painful chewing might also occur. When the chewing is painful, then it probably means other symptoms are occurring, like loosening teeth.

Sore and Loose Teeth
If you feel like you have a wobbly tooth, then the gingivitis probably needs to be looked at right away. When teeth are sore without eating or chewing anything, the gums are probably very irritated and need treatment.

Sore After Brushing
Brushing your teeth at night shouldn’t be painful. When it is, then you either have sensitive teeth, you brush too hard or gingivitis has started in. Talk to your dentist and he can determine which of the three problems is causing your sore teeth.

Bad Breath
Bad breath can also be a sign that gingivitis has crept in to your mouth. Gingivitis is essentially decay of the gums and the stinky breath is a result of that decay. Brushing, flossing and using mouthwash can combat the gingivitis and the bad breath.