Gingivitis

How to take care of Inflamed Gums

If your teeth are showing signs of gingivitis, don't wait to see your dentist. Left untreated, the degenerative disease can cause significant tooth and gum deterioration. If an examination determines you do have gingivitis, treating the condition is relatively simple and can be performed by your hygienist or dentist.

Bacteria thrive and multiply when plaque and tarter accumulate on the teeth. Bacteria causes gums to become inflamed and bleed, and those conditions become more noticeable when you eat or brush your teeth. Bleeding and inflamed gums are an early sign of gingivitis.

Scaling and root planing are early treatments for patients who have periodontitis (gum disease). Many patients ask about the difference between the treatments. Scaling is the removal of the dental tartar from the tooth surface. Root planing is the process of smoothing the root surfaces to remove the infected tooth structure.

Deep scaling and root planing is usually broken down into one section of the mouth per appointment. This allows for adequate healing time, and reduces the time for each appointment.