Ulcerative gingivitis is a painful gum condition in which the gums become inflamed, bleed, and develop ulcers — small open sores along the gum line. It is associated with bacterial infection flourishing where oral hygiene is poor, and with malnutrition, smoking, and stress, which weaken the tissues’ defences. The gums look red and swollen, bleed at a touch, and the ulcers make eating painful. Treatment combines professional dental cleaning to remove plaque and tartar, improved daily oral hygiene, and correction of any nutritional deficiencies. If neglected it can progress to more destructive gum disease. Like many oral conditions, it is a visible marker of the interplay between infection, nutrition, and host resistance.