Swollen Gums May Occur At The Early Stage Of Gum Disease

Gingivitis is the earliest stage of periodontal disease characterized by a moderate to heavy calculus build up, accompanied by the appearance of red and swollen gums with minimal gum recession or bone loss. At this stage of gum disease, brushing and flossing may cause bleeding to occur, however the patient may generally not experience any discomfort. It is in this time that one should immediately seek the help of a dental professional to get a recommended treatment plan which usually begins scaling and root planing of teeth with the use of ultrasonic scaling devices and hand instruments. To be able to minimize the discomfort, nitrous oxide and/or local anesthetic may be utilized. Antibiotics and antimicrobial mouthwash may be prescribed and at the same time oral hygiene instructions are reviewed.