Strict oral hygiene must be maintained lifelong or gingivitis will recur. Call your health care provider if the dentist recommends medical treatment of underlying conditions that contribute to the development of gingivitis. A cross section illustration of the tooth. The gums are shown in pink and the bone is yellow. The infected gums swell, bleed easily, recede, and loosen from the teeth.
Tooth loss is caused more frequently by gum disease than tooth decay.