Gingivitis Treatment Sydney

As gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, a dentist can alleviate your symptoms with simple and effective treatment before any irreversible damage occurs. However, this also means that early intervention is critical to avoid your gum disease progressing to more severe stages, such as periodontitis, which has several complications for your oral health. 

If you are showing signs similar to gingivitis, book an appointment online with our Putney Dental Care team or call (02) 9808 2588. Our talented team of experts use the latest techniques and dental technologies to ensure the best treatment for gingivitis.

Located in Putney, our dental clinic is perfect for anyone in Sydney around the surrounding suburbs of Ryde, Tennyson Point, Meadowbank and Gladesville. 

What is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is the first and most common stage of gum disease, also called periodontal disease. It’s a bacterial infection that inflames gums (gingiva) at the base of your teeth, causing them to become red, swollen, irritated and sometimes bleed. As a mild form of gum disease, gingivitis is reversible and can be treated by dentists, alongside maintaining good oral hygiene.  

Affecting 1 in 5 Australians, when gingivitis is left untreated, it can lead to periodontitis. At this later stage of gum disease, it becomes a lifelong condition that requires regular periodontal treatments to avoid permanent damage to your gums, teeth and jaw.

What Causes Gingivitis?

Bacteria from poor oral hygiene directly cause gingivitis, whether it’s bacteria within dental plaque from teeth and gums not being cleaned effectively. Or bacterial infections resulting from illness, allergic reactions or a sensitivity to foreign items like dentures, called foreign body gingivitis. 

Dental plaque is a sticky film that forms naturally when foods and beverages we consume mix with the saliva in our mouth. When it’s not removed by twice a day brushing and flossing, dental plaque will harden and turn into tartar. Once tartar, also called dental calculus, builds up in and around the gum line, it requires professional cleaning from a dentist before it causes more permanent issues.

Certain conditions and behaviours make some people susceptible to plaque and gingivitis. These risk factors include certain diseases, changes in hormones, family history, age, poor nutrition, some medications and smoking.

Signs and Symptoms of Gingivitis

One of the first signs of early gum disease or gingivitis is evidence of blood on your dental floss or toothbrush. While there are common signs and symptoms of gingivitis, you may not experience them all at once: 

• Puffy, swollen and painful gum tissue 
• Red and darker gums
• Sore or tender gums
• Gums that bleed easily
• Receding gums
• Bad taste in mouth
• Bad breath

If you have signs of sensitive teeth, tooth decay or loose teeth, you must visit a dental health professional for an assessment as soon as possible.

Why Should I Treat Gingivitis?

Once you notice the warning signs of gingivitis, such as red or swollen gums, you need to treat the gum infection sooner rather than later before it creates irreversible damage. The rate of progression for periodontal diseases will vary based on each individual and their overall health.

When gingivitis and other periodontal diseases are left untreated, it can seriously affect oral and overall health. If gingivitis progresses in severity to periodontitis, there are risks to the supporting tissues in your mouth and jawbone deteriorating to the point of bone and tooth loss.

No home remedy or natural treatment for gingivitis effectively removes gum infection. Gum disease treatment by a dental professional or periodontist is essential to combat this treatable condition for healthy gums and teeth. This includes disease control dental treatments to prevent gum disease from worsening.

When to Consult a Dentist

Not all signs of gingivitis are experienced in this early gum disease stage, so if you notice swollen or bleeding gums or any other issues for more than 3 days, then it’s important to seek advice from a dentist.

Don’t rely on self-diagnosis of periodontal diseases. Only a dental health professional or periodontist is professionally trained to diagnose gingivitis and periodontitis. After a full inspection, they will advise gum disease treatment options suitable to your circumstances.

Gingivitis Treatment with Putney Dental Care

Periodontal treatment at Putney Dental Care consists of a 3-step process to ensure effective treatment with long-lasting results, this includes:

1. Consultation and diagnosis
2. Treatment
3. Aftercare

1. Consultation and Diagnosis 

In an initial consultation with Putney Dental Care, one of our expert general dentists will examine your teeth and gums for any signs of plaque or inflammation.

If we suspect that you may have gingivitis, we will assess the depth of your periodontal pockets and take dental X-rays to determine the extent of the damage.

Ultimately, this ensures an accurate diagnosis of your gingivitis, helping guide us to provide the best follow-up treatment.

2. Treatment 

In your follow-up appointment, we will provide an intensive professional cleaning of your teeth and gums, known as scaling. In this procedure, a dentist will clear any existing plaque or tartar from your teeth while also removing any bacteria produced from your inflamed gums. 

During such treatments, our dentists use the latest technologies to ensure a deep and thorough professional cleaning. 

In some instances, your dentists may need to take restorative approaches if your gingivitis is caused by previous dental work, such as bridges, crowns or dentures. 

3. Aftercare 

Following your treatment for gingivitis, your dentist will provide you with personalised information on how best to maintain your gums for long-term results. Alongside this, we will provide information on a follow-up appointment to examine your oral health and recovery.

Most patients commonly experience tooth sensitivity with tender and swollen gums for up to 2 days following a professional dental cleaning. Accordingly, depending on the severity of your treatment, we may prescribe some type of antibiotic to avoid the risk of infection.

We also recommend avoiding any extremely hot or cold substances while you recover, as this can cause further irritation to your gums and may cause bleeding.

How to Prevent Recurrent Gingivitis 

As the most common cause of gingivitis and gum disease is poor dental hygiene, we recommend that you build positive habits towards your oral health. This includes:

• Brush at least twice a day
• Floss after every brush
• Rinse your mouth after eating 
• Limit your intake of sugary food and drink

Additionally, you should see a general dentist at least twice a year for a professional oral health examination. 

Ultimately, these steps will help ensure that your gums stay healthy and you can avoid gingivitis. 

Expert Treatment of Gingivitis in Ryde, Gladesville and Meadowbank Area

If you need more information about gingivitis and gum disease, contact us today! Our team of dentists offer affordable and effective gingivitis treatment for anyone located around Putney, Ryde, Meadowbank, and Gladesville areas.

The best way to ensure healthy gums and avoid gingivitis is to consult a professional dentist. So book online today to take the first step to healthy gums!

FAQs

Can Gingivitis Go Away on its Own?

No, gingivitis does not go away on its own. Furthermore, gingivitis does worsen over time as your gum disease advances. Therefore, it is critical to treat gingivitis professionally in its early stages.

Should I Be Worried If I Have Gingivitis?

Although gingivitis is a treatable and reversible condition, it is still a serious risk to your oral health. If left untreated, your gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, a severe phase of gum disease with several health complications.

Do Gums Go Back to Normal After Gingivitis?

Your gums won’t be able to grow back without surgical assistance. However, early intervention of gingivitis can help ensure that your gums remain looking healthy.