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Why can gingivitis cause gums to become swollen and bleed?

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Dentistry — dentistry The practice of dentistry involves preventing, diagnosing, and treating oral disease, as well as correcting deformities of the jaws, teeth, and oral cavity.

Gingivitis is defined as the inflammation of the gums, or gingivae. The primary cause of this condition is the accumulation of dental plaque on the surfaces of the teeth.12

When plaque deposits build up, they irritate and erode the neighboring soft tissues. This irritation triggers an inflammatory response in the connective tissue that surrounds the necks of the teeth. As the body attempts to respond to this bacterial accumulation, the gum tissue becomes tender and swollen. The inflammation also makes the delicate mucous membrane covering the gums more fragile, which is why they bleed easily when disturbed.321

If left untreated, this inflammation can progress to periodontitis, a more severe condition that may eventually involve the underlying bone and lead to tooth loss. Maintaining proper dental hygiene is essential to removing plaque and preventing these inflammatory processes.31