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The two main types of gum disease are gingivitis and periodontitis.

He had a fractured jaw that had healed poorly—a possible sign of physical violence—several cavities, missing teeth, abscesses in the mouth, gingivitis, and periodontitis, all signs of poor health care.

Missing a cleaning, as the Woodruffs dutifully remind us, can result in tartar buildup, which can lead to gingivitis and bleeding of the gums and eventually cause irreversible bone loss around the teeth.

For example, a review of clinical trials last year found that the treatment of gingivitis, which involves dental visits and cleanings, may reduce prematurity.

“When you brush your teeth and it bleeds a little bit, that’s not normal. That could be a sign of gingivitis or something more significant.”