It's great to hear that you have realised the importance of good oral hygiene and have turned over a new leaf.
It usually takes 2 weeks for oral mucosa to heal. That includes areas like the insides of your lips, cheeks, the palate, the tongue and the gums.
So if you have embarked on a new oral hygiene programme, any inflammation should reduce within 2 weeks. Other symptoms that are also likely to improve at the same time include bleeding on brushing/flossing and halitosis (bad breath).
However, if you have not had a professional scale and clean in awhile, plaque deposits may have hardened on to your tooth surfaces. These hardened tartar deposits cannot be removed by brushing/flossing alone and must be removed by your dentist/hygienist. A professional cleaning also goes in deeper under the gumline than what you would be able to manage at home. Combining good oral hygiene with a session of professional cleaning will resolve any gum problems rapidly.
At the same time, your dentist can assess you for oral cancer and periodontitis (which causes irreversible bone loss around your teeth that is only visible on xray). It makes sense to seek professional evaluation and guidance as you begin your journey to renewed oral health.
Hope this helps!
