Gingivitis is a very common condition in children caused by an infection of the soft tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. If a child’s gums are swollen and bleed while brushing, they may have gingivitis.

What is Gingivitis?

Gum disease progresses through different stages, primarily caused by toxins released by bacteria in tartar. These toxins irritate the gums, allowing bacteria to invade the spaces around the teeth, leading to redness and swelling.

What Causes Gingivitis in Children?

The direct cause of gingivitis is plaque buildup on the teeth. The longer plaque remains, the more severe its effects can be. If plaque is not properly removed through daily brushing and flossing, it releases toxins that irritate the gum tissues, leading to inflammation.

Thus, the main cause of gingivitis in children is poor oral hygiene, which results in the accumulation of debris and bacteria around the teeth, especially in the gum crevices.

Parents can identify gingivitis in children by checking their toothbrush.

How to Early Detect Gingivitis in Children?

It can be identified through the following signs:

• Mild swelling along the gumline and interdental papilla is an early sign of gingivitis. A child’s healthy gums are pink, but when affected by gingivitis, depending on its severity, the gums may appear reddish and swollen in mild cases. In more severe cases, the gums may become red, inflamed, and swollen. The gums will lose their firmness, becoming soft and fragile. In more advanced stages, children may experience gum bleeding when touched or even spontaneous bleeding. This occurs because bacteria causing gingivitis produce toxins that make the gums sensitive and prone to bleeding.

• When a child has gingivitis, their gums may bleed easily when brushing, and they may experience pain while brushing. Some cases involve severe gum swelling, along with ulcers on the tongue, lips, and inside the mouth, causing discomfort. Because of the pain, many children refuse to brush their teeth regularly. In young children, some parents, upon noticing their child crying in pain when cleaning their teeth, may stop brushing their child’s teeth altogether, worsening the gingivitis condition.

• Parents can identify gingivitis in children by checking their toothbrush after brushing. If they notice a “pinkish hue” on the bristles, it indicates blood accumulation during brushing.

• A child’s mouth may have an unpleasant odor, and their breath may smell bad when pus forms between the teeth and gums.

Additionally, children with gingivitis often show signs of reduced appetite or refusal to eat due to gum pain. Parents should pay close attention to their child’s oral health. bỏ ăn do đau nướu. Các bậc cha mẹ cần để ý kiểm tra răng miệng của trẻ.

What Are the Consequences of Gingivitis in Children?

Poor oral hygiene leads to plaque buildup on the tooth surface, triggering an inflammatory response characterized by localized or widespread redness and swelling of the gums. The earliest noticeable effect on children is bad breath.

Mild gingivitis causes the gums to become red and swollen, but if left undetected and untreated, it can become dangerous due to its silent progression. In the early stages, the gums are prone to bleeding and redness when brushing or applying pressure.

As the condition advances, bacteria penetrate deeper into the gumline, causing the gums to separate from the teeth. Severe gum damage results in the formation of pus around the tooth neck, leading to jawbone resorption and destruction of the surrounding tissues, ligaments, and alveolar bone.

If gingivitis is not treated early, the supporting structures of the teeth are compromised, causing gum recession and alveolar bone loss, which makes the teeth loose. The severity of tooth mobility varies, but ultimately, it can lead to tooth loss.

What Should Be Done to Help Children?

Gingivitis treatment is most effective when detected early in its initial stages. Since gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, it is also the easiest to treat.

Parents should promptly take their child to a pediatric dental specialist at children’s hospitals for examination and treatment. Self-medicating without professional guidance is not recommended, as it may not completely eliminate the disease, causing it to persist and making future treatment more challenging.

Depending on the severity of the condition, the dentist may use antiseptic mouth rinses for localized treatment or prescribe additional oral antibiotics, vitamin PP, and vitamin C to aid recovery.