Is Gingivitis Actually Contagious?

People often get dental issues due to their lifestyles. That’s only natural, as bad habits and poor oral hygiene cause many mouth problems. Still, there are exceptions to this rule. A noteworthy one is gingivitis – it’s a contagious disease. If you aren’t careful, you could give it to friends and family. Luckily, there are ways to avoid that outcome. Read on to learn about gingivitis, how it spreads, and ways to prevent its transmission.

Some Context: What’s Gingivitis?

Put simply, gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease. It’s an inflammation of the gums caused by a bacterial infection.

At first, gingivitis may not have visible symptoms. (It’s often called a “silent” disease for this reason.) However, signs of the condition usually do appear with time. These include gum swelling, tender gums, and bleeding from the gum tissue.

Left unchecked, gingivitis can become gingivitis – the advanced form of gum disease. This ailment affects not only your gums but also the tissues that support your smile. So, it can result in bad breath and loose teeth.

You Can Spread Gingivitis

Normally, gingivitis stems from a bad lifestyle. Sometimes, though, it can occur due to the spread of bacteria.

Remember: gingivitis is caused by harmful bacteria. Those same microbes can be spread through your saliva. As such, you could pass your infection to others via kissing, sharing eating utensils, etc. Your peers would then develop the same nasty gum symptoms that you have.

Despite the above facts, experts still debate the details of how gingivitis spreads. Some assert that the condition doesn’t meet the standards of a contagious disease. Meanwhile, other groups like the American Dental Association disagree.

How to Keep Gingivitis from Spreading

Fortunately, you can keep gingivitis from spreading. It happens to be a reversible disease. Therefore, you just need to take the right steps.

One option is to improve your home oral hygiene. In particular, remember to brush twice daily, floss once daily, and rinse often with mouthwash. You could also use gum-protecting toothpaste in your brushing routine. By adopting these measures, you’d strengthen your gums and reduce their inflammation.

Of course, the better approach is to see a dentist. They’ll provide you with periodontal work that removes the harmful bacteria. An example of such treatment is scaling and root planing, which scrapes away plaque and tartar from below your gumline. Another is antibiotic therapy, which has you take a daily pill to treat your infected gums.

Judging by a broad standard, gingivitis is contagious. That being the case, see your local dentist to ensure you don’t spread it.