People with periodontal disease have to take especially good care of their teeth and gums in order to keep both as healthy as possible. One of the most important things that people with periodontal disease need to remember is that they must have regular deep gum cleanings. Here is some additional information about those deep gum cleanings.
Periodontal Disease
If you have periodontal disease, your gums are infected with bacteria. The bacteria live in your mouth all the time and help you digest food. You need to get regular dental checkups to ensure you are brushing and flossing thoroughly so you don’t get gum disease. The first stage of gum disease is mild. It’s called gingivitis. The symptoms of gingivitis include swollen, red, or bleeding gums. Gingivitis is completely curable with better hygiene and dental visits.
The later stages of gum disease are called periodontitis. In periodontitis, spaces develop between your teeth and gums. Food and bacteria can become trapped in these pockets. It’s really important to clean out these pockets regularly to keep your gums as healthy as possible.
Scaling
Scaling is another word for this deep gum cleaning. When periodontists or dentists practice a scaling technique, they are cleaning out these pockets at and below your gumline. Sometimes, dental practitioners find only plaque, which is a liquid film made by bacteria. However, there is also a hard, calcified plaque that special tools are needed to scrape off, called tartar. You cannot remove the tartar yourself. Only a dentist can remove the tartar for you.
Why Is Scaling Important?
The act of deep gum cleaning, or scaling, is very important to the continuing health of your gums. When you have scaling done about once every three to four months, you are keeping the number of bacteria in your mouth down, which keeps your gums healthy. Without scaling, your gum infection can get worse, spread to other parts of your body, and cause you to lose your teeth.
