Factors influencing the susceptibility to gingivitis during childhood--a review.

A variety of biological changes take place during childhood which have an impact on the development of gingival inflammatory disease. This paper reviews the literature concerning changes in the susceptibility to gingivitis during childhood. It is concluded that during certain periods the risk of developing gingivitis is relatively low, while in others the gingival tissues are more susceptible and react to bacterial irritation with inflammation. Factors that may be responsible for these changes include differences in bacterial plaque composition, in immune defence systems and in morphology of the gingival tissues, and also factors related to tooth eruption and puberty.