Gingivitis can cause dusky red, swollen, tender gums that bleed easily, especially when you brush your teeth. Healthy gums are firm and pale pink and fitted tightly around the teeth. Signs and symptoms of gingivitis include: Swollen or puffy gums.
In the first stage of periodontitis, called gingivitis, you may notice red, swollen gums and bad breath. Gums might also bleed when you brush or floss. Gingivitis, which is reversible, can be treated by improving at-home dental care and visiting your dentist regularly for treatment.
Gingivitis usually clears up after a thorough professional cleaning — as long as you continue good oral hygiene at home. Your dentist will help you plan an effective at-home program and a schedule of regular professional checkups and cleaning.
You can get rid of inflamed gums caused by gingivitis by rinsing your mouth with a saltwater solution. Repeat this three times a day. Homemade mouthwashes made from lemongrass, aloe vera, or tea tree reduce pain, bleeding, plaque formation, bad breath, and inflammation of the gums.
Drinking water keeps your body's tissues healthy and hydrated–including gum tissue. Healthy gum tissue helps prevent infection. Drinking water washes away the bacteria that cause gingivitis. It improves saliva production, which helps fight gum disease by washing away harmful bacteria.
Using a toothpaste like parodontax Active Gum Repair, which contains an anti-gingivitis ingredient, stannous fluoride, helps reverse gingivitis by targeting plaque bacteria. Although brushing your teeth can get rid of plaque, the plaque that forms in between your teeth can be hard to reach with a toothbrush.
How long does it take to treat gingivitis? Patients who comply with their dentist's recommendations will often see their condition reduce dramatically within two or three weeks. More serious stages of gingivitis may take longer to see results.
As long as you seek treatment and comply with your dentist's instructions, gingivitis will dramatically reduce within a few weeks.
Treatment Time for Gingivitis
But for those with gingivitis due to poor oral hygiene, the average time it takes for gingivitis to go away is about 10 to 14 days after your treatment, along with proper oral healthcare. Keep in mind that there are many, many factors that can change the timeline.
Gingivitis can cause your breath to smell like sulfur or rotten eggs. This is because of the bacteria in your mouth releasing chemicals that smells like these things. If you have gingivitis, you may also notice that your gingiva, or gums, are red and swollen. You may also bleed when you brush or floss your teeth.
It's important to take gingivitis seriously and treat it promptly. Gingivitis can lead to much more serious gum disease called periodontitis and tooth loss.
Stage 2: Early Periodontitis
Patients with early periodontal disease typically have a gingival pocket depth of between 4-5 millimeters. If you have early periodontal disease, your gums will bleed more readily during flossing and professional cleanings, and your gum tissue will start to recede, creating an aged look.
Gums that bleed while flossing or brushing. Purple or dark red gums. Development of spaces in between teeth. Persistent bad breath.
Brushing and flossing alone generally are not sufficient to remove all plaque from the gumline, and the plaque will accumulate to the extent that it can cause gum disease. This is why dentists recommend that their patients have cleanings and checkups every six months.
Your healing gums might require a gentler touch first, so make sure you are using a soft-bristled brush and applying the right amount of pressure. Use a water flosser or interdental brush to get between your teeth and under your gumline to remove irritants like bacteria and food debris and help reduce inflammation.
Flossing Helps to Prevent and Even Reverse Gingivitis
This simple act — which should take no more than 5 minutes — protects teeth from the spread of bacteria, plaque, tartar, and other elements throughout the mouth.
Salt is a natural disinfectant that helps with gum disease in a few ways: It removes loose debris and cleans the teeth and gums. Reduces inflammation and swelling and soothes the gums. It helps to get rid of decay and plaques.
The simple answer is, no. If your gums are damaged by, for example periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, it's not possible for receding gums to grow back. However, even though receding gums can't be reversed there are treatments that can help to stop the problem from getting worse.
Untreated gingivitis will progress into periodontitis, which is a more severe stage of gum disease. The infection and pockets deepen while eating away at your jaw until your teeth become loose and fall out.
Brushing your teeth at least thrice per day and flossing can reverse the condition. Use antibacterial mouthwash and rinse your teeth for at least 30 seconds after brushing. Remember, brushing twice is the minimum requirement for everybody; going the extra mile will not hurt, especially for those with gingivitis.
Your dentist or periodontist will thoroughly clean your teeth to remove harmful bacteria, plaque and tartar. Additional gingivitis treatments include: Scaling and root planing: This procedure is similar to a routine dental cleaning, but reaches deeper beneath your gums. Scaling removes tartar and bacteria.
Other factors not related to oral hygiene can also increase your risk of developing gum disease, including smoking, genetic factors, hormonal changes, systemic diseases like diabetes or bruxism (grinding your teeth).