Gingivitis - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic

Prompt treatment usually reverses symptoms of gingivitis and prevents its progression to more serious gum disease and tooth loss. COVID-19:Advice,updatesandvaccineoptions Weareopenforsafein-personcare. Learnmore: MayoClinicfactsaboutcoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19) OurCOVID-19patientandvisitorguidelines,plustrustedhealthinformation Lateston COVID-19vaccination bysite: Arizonapatientvaccinationupdates Arizona, Floridapatientvaccinationupdates Florida, Rochesterpatientvaccinationupdates Rochesterand MayoClinicHealthSystempatientvaccinationupdates MCHS Skiptositenavigation SkiptoContent ThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion. SectionsforGingivitisSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departments Print DiagnosisDentistsusuallydiagnosegingivitisbasedon: Reviewofyourdentalandmedicalhistoryandconditionsthatmaycontributetoyoursymptoms. Examinationofyourteeth,gums,mouthandtongueforsignsofplaqueandinflammation. Measuringthepocketdepthofthegroovebetweenyourgumsandyourteethbyinsertingadentalprobebesideyourtoothbeneathyourgumline,usuallyatseveralsitesthroughoutyourmouth.Inahealthymouth,thepocketdepthisusuallybetween1and3millimeters(mm).Pocketsdeeperthan4mmmayindicategumdisease. DentalX-raystocheckforbonelossinareaswhereyourdentistseesdeeperpockets. Othertestsasneeded.Ifit'snotclearwhathascausedyourgingivitis,yourdentistmayrecommendthatyougetamedicalevaluationtocheckforunderlyinghealthconditions.Ifyourgumdiseaseisadvanced,yourdentistmayreferyoutoaspecialistingumdiseases(periodontist). TreatmentPrompttreatmentusuallyreversessymptomsofgingivitisandpreventsitsprogressiontomoreseriousgumdiseaseandtoothloss.Youhavethebestchanceforsuccessfultreatmentwhenyoualsoadoptadailyroutineofgoodoralcareandstoptobaccouse. Professionalgingivitiscareincludes: Professionaldentalcleaning.Yourinitialprofessionalcleaningwillincluderemovingalltracesofplaque,tartarandbacterialproducts—aprocedureknownasscalingandrootplaning.Scalingremovestartarandbacteriafromyourtoothsurfacesandbeneathyourgums.Rootplanningremovesthebacterialproductsproducedbyinflammation,smoothstherootsurfaces,discouragingfurtherbuildupoftartarandbacteria,andallowsproperhealing.Theproceduremaybeperformedusinginstruments,alaseroranultrasonicdevice. Dentalrestoration,ifneeded.Misalignedteethorpoorlyfittingcrowns,bridgesorotherdentalrestorationsmayirritateyourgumsandmakeithardertoremoveplaqueduringdailyoralcare.Ifproblemswithyourteethordentalrestorationscontributetoyourgingivitis,yourdentistmayrecommendfixingtheseproblems. Ongoingcare.Gingivitisusuallyclearsupafterathoroughprofessionalcleaning—aslongasyoucontinuegoodoralhygieneathome.Yourdentistwillhelpyouplananeffectiveat-homeprogramandascheduleofregularprofessionalcheckupsandcleaning. Ifyou'reconsistentwithyourhomeoralhygiene,youshouldseethereturnofpink,healthygumtissuewithindaysorweeks. RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic LifestyleandhomeremediesStepsyoucantakeathometopreventandreversegingivitisinclude: Brushyourteethtwiceadayor,betteryet,aftereverymealorsnack. Useasofttoothbrushandreplaceitatleasteverythreetofourmonths. Considerusinganelectrictoothbrush,whichmaybemoreeffectiveatremovingplaqueandtartar. Flossdaily. Useamouthrinsetohelpreduceplaquebetweenyourteeth. Supplementbrushingandflossingwithaninterdentalcleaner,suchasadentalpick,interdentalbrushordentalstickspeciallydesignedtocleanbetweenyourteeth. Getregularprofessionaldentalcleaningsonaschedulerecommendedbyyourdentist. Don'tsmokeorchewtobacco. PreparingforyourappointmentFollowyourdentist'srecommendedscheduleforregularcheckups.Ifyounoticeanysymptomsofgingivitis,makeanappointmentwithyourdentist.Here'ssomeinformationtohelpyougetreadyforyourappointmentandknowwhattodotoprepare. WhatyoucandoTogetreadyforyourappointment,makealistof: Anysymptomsyou'reexperiencing,includinganythatmayseemunrelatedtothereasonforyourappointment Keypersonalinformation,suchasanymedicalconditionsyoumayhave Allmedicationsyoutake,includingvitamins,herbsorothersupplements,andthedosages Questionstoaskyourdentisttomakethemostofyourtimetogether Somequestionstoaskyourdentistmayinclude: Doyouthinkgingivitisiscausingmysymptoms? Whatkindsoftests,ifany,doIneed? Willmydentalinsurancecoverthetreatmentsyou'rerecommending? Whatarethealternativestotheapproachyou'resuggesting? WhatstepscanItakeathometokeepmygumsandteethhealthy? Whatkindoftoothpaste,toothbrushanddentalflossdoyourecommend? Doyourecommendusingmouthwash? ArethereanyrestrictionsthatIneedtofollow? ArethereanybrochuresorotherprintedmaterialthatIcanhave? Whatwebsitesdoyourecommend? Don'thesitatetoaskotherquestionsduringyourappointment. WhattoexpectfromyourdentistYourdentistmayaskyouquestionsaboutyoursymptoms,suchas: Whendidyoubeginexperiencingsymptoms? Haveyoursymptomsbeencontinuousoroccasional? Howoftendoyoubrushyourteeth? Doyouusedentalfloss?Howoften? Howoftendoyouseeadentist? Whatmedicalconditionsdoyouhave? Whatmedicationsdoyoutake? ByMayoClinicStaff RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic Symptoms&causesDoctors&departments Aug.04,2017 Print Shareon:FacebookTwitter Showreferences WilderRS,etal.Gingivitisandperiodontitisinadults:Classificationanddentaltreatment.http://www.uptodate.com/home.AccessedNov.11,2016. Periodontal(gum)disease:Causes,symptoms,andtreatments.NationalInstituteofDentalandCraniofacialResearch.http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/oralhealth/Topics/GumDiseases/PeriodontalGumDisease.htm#.AccessedNov.10,2016. Gumdiseaseinformation.AmericanAcademyofPeriodontology.https://www.perio.org/consumer/gum-disease.htm.AccessedNov.10,2016. Gumdisease.AmericanDentalAssociation.http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/g/gum-disease.AccessedNov.11,2016. Brushingyourteeth.AmericanDentalAssociation.http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/b/brushing-your-teeth.AccessedNov.15,2016. Gingivalinflammationwithoutlossofperiodontalattachment(gingivitis).AmericanDentalAssociation.http://www.ada.org/en/science-research/dental-practice-parameters/gingival-inflammation-without-loss-of-periodontal-attachment.AccessedNov.15,2016. Gingivitis.AmericanDentalAssociation.http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/g/gingivitis.AccessedNov.15,2016. Gingivitis.MerckManualProfessionalVersion.https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/dental-disorders/periodontal-disorders/gingivitis.AccessedNov.15,2016. SalinasTJ(expertopinion).MayoClinic,Rochester,Minn.Nov.19,2016. Related Gingivitis Healthytooth Products&Services Book:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEdition Newsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEdition ShowmoreproductsandservicesfromMayoClinic GingivitisSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departments Advertisement MayoClinicdoesnotendorsecompaniesorproducts.Advertisingrevenuesupportsournot-for-profitmission. Advertising&Sponsorship Policy Opportunities AdChoices MayoClinicPress Checkoutthesebest-sellersandspecialoffersonbooksandnewslettersfromMayoClinicPress. NEW–CookSmart,EatWell-MayoClinicPressNEW–CookSmart,EatWellFREEMayoClinicDietAssessment-MayoClinicPressFREEMayoClinicDietAssessmentNEW–MayoCliniconHearingandBalance-MayoClinicPressNEW–MayoCliniconHearingandBalanceMayoClinicHealthLetter-FREEbook-MayoClinicPressMayoClinicHealthLetter-FREEbookLiveYoungerLonger-MayoClinicPressLiveYoungerLonger CON-20199573 PatientCare&HealthInformation Diseases&Conditions Gingivitis