Abstract

Dental plaque causes chronic gingivitis, but aggravating factors could be related to mouthbreathing and ankyloglossia. An adult female with a complaint of “bleeding gums” and an adult male with a complaint of “painful gums” were seen at a periodontal clinic. Authors found markedly enlarged tonsils compromising the airway with associated gingivitis in the female patient and ankyloglossia with associated mild gingivitis and Miller’s class II gingival recession in the male patient.  For these particular cases, chronic mouth-breathing and ankyloglossia appeared to be important in the aetiopathogenesis of chronic gingivitis and periodontitis.

Key words: Adverse effects, mouthbreathing, rare causes of gingivitis.