Is gum inflammation an indication of HIV?
In HIV-positive patients the immune system is weakened. The risk of diseases breaking out more quickly than in healthy people is therefore increased. Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG) is particularly common in this group.
This is an aggressive variant of gingivitis, which is associated with the death and decay of the gums. It is accompanied by a general feeling of illness and pain. With this disease you should see your doctor immediately.
However, normal gingivitis is not one of the typical initial symptoms of HIV infection. Everybody has had an encounter with gingivitis at some point in their lives, but this should not be overestimated. You should consult a doctor if the symptoms occur over a longer period of time. Especially if other typical HIV symptoms are also present.
Prognosis
Gum inflammation is a serious disease. Apart from the fact that the patient suffers from pain while brushing his teeth and bleeding gums shortly after the onset of the disease, there is a risk of developing periodontitis if the patient does not receive appropriate treatment. As a tendency, it can be assumed that almost every untreated gingivitis turns into a real periodontitis.
The rapid initiation of targeted treatment measures after the appearance of the typical symptoms is therefore essential for the prognosis of gingivitis. In those cases where the affected patient visits a dentist early, adequate treatment is provided and the patient regularly participates in scheduled aftercare sessions, gingivitis can usually heal completely. It only becomes problematic if parts of the jawbone are already affected by inflammatory processes, if gums have receded or if the patient does not carry out proper oral hygiene despite training.
Duration of gingivitis
Every gingivitis is individual and depends on general causes; therefore, no information can be given about an exact duration. Acute gingivitis usually heals within a week. Of course, there are cases that take more or less time to heal.If there is a local cause, such as a single gingival pocket or a wisdom tooth that has just broken through, the dentist can often help by applying an ointment.
If there is a hormonal change, as is the case in pregnancy, an inflammation can take a little longer. Other systemic causes, such as underlying diseases or vitamin deficiency, can also weaken the immune system and often require a little more time. In general, gingivitis should not be taken lightly. A clarification of all cases with unclear cause, which are present beyond one week, should be presented to the dentist. Here an adequate therapy can be carried out and the cause can be found so that periodontosis cannot develop in the first place.
