Do you suffer from tender, swollen gums that bleed whenever you brush or floss your teeth
The main cause of gingivitis is residual plaque that covers one's teeth. Plaque is formed by bacteria, mucus and food particles. If not removed properly with brushing and flossing, these things can turn into decay and tartar, that will modify the gums and tooth sockets.
Once gingivitis has been detected by your dentist or hygienist, you will undergo a training course of treatments to alleviate the problem. You will undergo several deep cleanings, by which your dentist or hygienist will thoroughly work on one part of your mouth, possibly only one quadrant at any given time. They'll use special instruments to remove the plaque and tartar develop and they will clean below the gumline. They may only do one quadrant per visit since your mouth is going to be sore and tender afterwards, and you will have to heal before they are able to treat another part of the mouth area. Most likely you'll be instructed to continue brushing gently, however, you may also be advised to rinse the mouth area by having an antibacterial rinse (usually prescribed) to help eliminate the infection.
When your teeth and gums have been thoroughly cleaned, you should practice good brushing and flossing techniques to avoid future gingivitis occurances.