What is gingivitis and is it different from gum disease?
The terms gingivitis, pyorrhea, periodontal disease and gum disease are synonymous. Gingivitis is the oral response to a bacterial infection. There are some body dysfunctions, which allow an increased incidence of periodontal disease such as diabetes, Down syndrome, autoimmune diseases and others, but generally bacteria are the cause of the infection. Healthy gingival tissues exhibit a balance between the type and number of bacteria present. Disease occurs when the balance is disrupted and bacteria becomes predominant. Tissue swelling, redness, exudate and pain generally accompany the disease process. Left unaltered, the disease affects the bone support for the teeth. The exact sequence is not totally understood, but there is more bone loss than regeneration. This process of more loss than replacement directly correlates to the amount and duration of the infection, although there may be some individual differences. Unless the disease process is addressed, the bone loss continues.
The terms gingivitis, pyorrhea, periodontal disease and gum disease are synonymous. They are like saying car or automobile as they refer to the same thing. Gingivitis is the oral response to a bacterial infection. There are some systemic dysfunctions, which allow an increased incidence of periodontal disease such as diabetes, trisomy 21, autoimmune diseases and others, but generally bacteria are the etiologic agents of the infection. Healthy gingival tissues exhibit a balance between the type and number of bacteria present. Disease occurs when the balance is disrupted and more pathologic agent become predominant. Tissue swelling, redness, exudate and pain generally accompany the disease process. Left unaltered, the disease affects the bone support for the teeth. The exact sequence is not totally understood, but there is more bone loss than regeneration. This process of more loss than replacement directly correlates to the amount and duration of the infection, although there may be some
