How long does it take for gingivitis to heal after a dental cleaning?

Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
Updated on May 23, 2025
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When a patient has gingivitis, generally, dental cleaning can reduce some of the inflammatory irritation. However, there is no specific time frame for how long it will take to recover from gingivitis solely through dental cleaning. If a patient has gingivitis, it is still advisable to use some medications, such as oral anti-inflammatory drugs. For example, antibacterial drugs against anaerobic bacteria like metronidazole, tinidazole, or ornidazole, can be combined with some antibiotics, commonly amoxicillin or cephalosporins, or erythromycin. Additionally, patients must pay attention to oral hygiene, rinse their mouths promptly after meals, brush their teeth morning and night, and cultivate correct dietary habits. It is important to avoid spicy and overly hard foods in the diet. Furthermore, patients should ensure to eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits and schedule regular teeth cleanings to reduce the irritation caused by gingivitis.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
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The difference between periodontitis and gingivitis

Periodontitis and gingivitis have essential differences. Gingivitis is the early stage of periodontitis. Both gingivitis and periodontitis involve the formation of periodontal pockets, but the pockets in gingivitis are pseudo pockets, caused by inflammation of the gums which leads to the local proliferation or swelling of the gums, enveloping part of the tooth crown. In contrast, the periodontal pockets in periodontitis are true pockets, caused by the resorption of the alveolar bone, a condition that accompanies the loss of alveolar bone. Therefore, the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis lies in whether there is bone loss or not.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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Can I eat grapes with gingivitis?

Patients with gingivitis can eat grapes, as grapes contain rich vitamins and nutrients, which can be very beneficial to the body. However, it is recommended that patients rinse their mouth and brush their teeth immediately after eating grapes to remove any residual grape juice. Since grapes are sweet, leaving residues in the mouth can lead to bacterial growth and worsen gingivitis. Therefore, patients can consume a moderate amount of grapes, and eating other fresh fruits can also be beneficial for inflammation recovery. In daily life, it is also recommended for patients to eat more fresh vegetables and fruits. For gingivitis, it is important to identify the causes, whether it is due to wisdom teeth, periodontitis, or apical periodontitis. In such cases, it is generally advised to seek medical advice and receive appropriate treatment under the guidance of a doctor.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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Can hydrogen peroxide be used as a mouthwash for gingivitis?

Gingivitis can be treated with hydrogen peroxide mouthwash, as hydrogen peroxide is a colorless liquid with an irritating odor, and medically, it is commonly used for disinfecting wounds and otitis media. When the skin is infected or there are wounds and pus or contamination in the oral mucosa, 3% hydrogen peroxide can be used for disinfection, as it can destroy the bodies of bacteria and kill them. During oral treatment, such as some root canal treatments, hydrogen peroxide can be used for rinsing because most oral infections originate from anaerobic bacteria, and hydrogen peroxide has a strong bactericidal effect. However, as hydrogen peroxide is a topical medication, care should be taken not to swallow it while using it for mouthwash.

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Written by Li Cui
Dentistry
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Why does gingivitis cause the gaps between teeth to become bigger?

If the patient has gingivitis, prolonged gingivitis is subject to chronic inflammatory stimulation, which can lead to the atrophy of gum tissue and is harmful to the health of the gum tissue. When gum tissue begins to atrophy, gaps between teeth may become larger. Therefore, it is advised for patients to maintain good oral hygiene daily to prevent chronic gingivitis from adversely affecting oral health. Furthermore, if gaps between teeth enlarge, prolonged development may lead to tooth loosening or loss. Hence, patients must pay attention to oral hygiene, rinse their mouth promptly after meals to remove food debris, and regularly get their teeth cleaned to remove tartar and plaque, which is beneficial for oral health.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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What should I do if I have gingivitis?

Gingivitis is characterized by symptoms such as bleeding while eating or brushing teeth. Sometimes, bloodstains may be found on the pillow upon waking up, which are also signs of gingivitis. Gingivitis can sometimes cause pain while eating, necessitating timely and thorough treatment, which includes both initial and maintenance phases. The initial treatment involves removing irritants around the teeth, including tartar, dental plaque, or soft deposits around the gums, followed by medicated rinsing. After controlling gingivitis, it is necessary to enter a regular maintenance phase with check-ups every six months, and any existing tartar should be promptly removed.