Would You Know if Gingivitis Showed Up?

Gingivitis, the first of gum disease’s several stages, is more common than many people realize. Fortunately, it’s often detected and treated early with the help of your dentist. However, sometimes, patients miss the warning signs and don’t visit their dentists often enough for an examination to unveil it. At our Oxnard, CA, dentist’s office, we can help you not only detect gingivitis, but also control it (and possibly reverse it) with the help of personalized scaling and root planing.

What gingivitis means
Gum disease is caused mainly by harmful oral bacteria, which overwhelm and infect your gum tissues when they’re not controlled properly. The first stage of this infection is called gingivitis, and it involves redness, swelling, slight recession and bleeding of your gums. These are the effects of the hazardous toxins that the bacteria release, and before long, they can lead to more severe gum tissue damage and erosion.

The most obvious signs
In many cases, you can notice signs like redness, swelling, and bleeding in your gums. For example, when you brush and floss your teeth, pay close attention to how your gums appear in the mirror each time. However, for a more comprehensive diagnosis, your dentist can perform a thorough examination to check for these signs and others, such as the recession (pulling away) of your gums from your teeth.

How to address it early
Because oral bacteria are the driving forces behind gingivitis, cleaning away these microbes is the secret to treating it at any stage. When it’s detected early, that may simply involve deep cleaning, also known as scaling and root planing. The procedure involves carefully removing the bacterial plaque and tartar that have settled on your teeth roots, which removes the threat and allows your gums to heal.

Treat gingivitis with scaling & root planing
If you or your dentist notices the signs of gingivitis, then you may have a good chance of treating it early with scaling and root planing. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling Oxnard Dentistry in Oxnard, CA, today at (805) 604-9999. We also proudly serve patients from in and around Camarillo, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Moore Park, and all surrounding communities.