Is damage to your gums caused by gingivitis irreversible? i like to think i take good care of my teeth, but at my dentist appointment last week my dentist said i have gingivitis and could need a deep cleaning. is any damage caused by this permanent? what

Gingivitis : Gingivitis is inflammation of your gums and is reversible. Once all the local factors(plaque/calculus-bacteria) are removed, it will go away. If you need deep cleaning then you might either have false pocket (overgrown or swelled gums) or periodontitis (bone loss around teeth which is irreversible). Either way you need to get your deep cleaning. Your job is to maintain your oral hygiene (brush/floss). Ask your dentist the problem areas that you are not able to clean properly and then focus more in those sites.

Gingivitis : Gingivitis is typically a soft tissue problem and can be treated with a combination of professional and home care. Occasionally surgery may be required for problem areas that you are not keeping clean. So yes it is a reversible. When the condition progresses to bone loss, periodontitis, then it may become irreversible as it is difficult if not impossible to replace the lost bone. That is why you have to effectively address the problem early with the help of your dentist.

You're : You're being given good advice. The situation you have now (gingivitis), once controlled, is reversible. Should you allow it to progress to the next stage (periodontitis) you will have bone loss and this is not only more serious, but irreversible. Proper brushing, flossing and following your dentist's recommendations will give you the best chance to stop the progress of your gum disease and get you back to health.

Gingivitis : Gingivitis by definition is a reversible inflammation of the gum tissue around necks of the teeth. It is caused by high levels of plaque (bacteria) which your body's immune system is reacting to. Typical treatment includes oral hygiene instruction and very thorough debridement. I would not suggest "deep cleaning" for gingivitis as this procedure can actually cause some more damage to the weak gum tissue. Deep cleaning (known as scaling and rooplaning) is a very common treatment modality for something called periodontitis, which is an irreversible destruction of the gum tissue from the root. In this situation the bacteria has migrated down the root surface and it has to be "planed" off. If the dentist or hygienist is too aggressive with deep cleaning they can cause some damage to the roots. Essentially, good oral hygiene including a sonic toothbrush, floss and mouthrinse (listerene) and a thorough cleaning is the most effective. Some medications can increase inflammation and for women increased hormonal levels can cause an over-reaction to the bacteria. The treatment for all these is the same - excellent oral hygiene and regular dental cleanings. Best regards, dr. Smith.

Yes: Gingivitis is defined as gum inflammation that is confined to the surface of the gums and it is reversible. The reason for treating it is to prevent is from going deeper and turning into periodontitis, a much more serious, and not always reversible, condition.

By definition: Gingivitis is by definition reversible. It is inflammation of the soft gum tissue that goes away with cleaning. If there is bone lose the it is periodontitis.