Regular brushing and flossing are essential to having good oral health, as are regular visits to the dentist. The professional cleanings you undergo during these visits can help stave off plaque, cavities, and many other dental issues. However, if you have not visited the dentist as often as you should, you may be due to have a deep gum cleaning.

What is Deep Gum Cleaning?

Deep gum cleaning is not the same as a regular cleaning. It is a dental procedure that is used to treat gum and periodontal diseases, and a dental hygienist typically conducts that. It is used to remove the bacteria that can settle below the gums and can cause the bone loss that contributes to the loosening of teeth and worsening existing medical conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes.

The bacteria that are caught under the gumline cannot be removed with flossing, brushing or a regular cleaning. If it is left untreated, it can cause an immune response in the body, which can result in inflammation. The inflammation can progress deeper under the gumline and result in the loss bone, which can compromise your oral health.

The Deep Gum Cleaning Process

Deep gum cleaning, also referred to as scaling and root planning, involves using specialized dental tools to clean your mouth. During the scaling portion of the process, the bacteria, tartar, and plaque are removed from the surface of the teeth and from inside the pocket areas between the gums and teeth. Root planing involves removing any part of the tooth structure that is infected and smoothing the root surfaces.

The process typically requires at least two visits to the dentist to complete as well as a follow-up appointment to ensure that the state of your teeth and gums has improved and to determine whether the gum pockets around your teeth have deepened. Once you have undergone a deep gum cleaning and the bacteria that were hidden and multiplied in the pockets areas around the teeth have been removed, you should begin to see a noticeable improvement in the health of your gums within the next few weeks. This is as long as you adhere to a daily oral health routine that includes proper brushing and flossing.

When Do You Need Deep Gum Cleaning

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, adults should undergo a periodontal assessment every year to see if they require a deep gum cleaning. Individuals who haven’t had a professional cleaning at regular dental visits, usually every six months, will typically have to undergo this procedure. The dental hygienist will use a dental probe to measure the areas around your teeth to identify any pocketing. Normal pockets are no more than three millimeters deep. If the depth of the gum tissues between the gums and teeth is at least five millimeters, your dentist will likely recommend the procedure.

If you are overdue for a dental visit, you may be a good candidate for a deep gum cleaning. Don’t hesitate to speak with your dentist about having a comprehensive evaluation to determine the state of your oral health.

Gingivitis is the first form of gum disease, and it’s true that it’s not quite as serious as periodontitis. However, gum disease is a progressive condition, so you absolutely should treat gingivitis as seriously as any other dental health problem. When you first notice early signs like a little blood when you brush your teeth and redness around the teeth, act immediately to reverse the problem while it’s still gingivitis.

Act Without Delay

Talk to your dentist as soon as you notice the first signs of gingivitis. By ignoring it, you’re allowing bacteria to become colonized in the space between your gums and your teeth. These bacteria are very destructive and will make large pockets around your teeth, down to the roots, as they spread and multiply. Loosening the gum tissue away from the tooth damages the root and eventually kills the tooth. Acting quickly stops this cycle before any damage is done to the gums or teeth.

Commit to a Daily Routine

No matter what your dentist wants to do in the office to clean under the gums and kill the bacteria, it’s all for nothing if you don’t keep up your end of the daily oral hygiene routine. Gingivitis comes from tartar forming at the edges of the teeth and hardening into plaque, which acts as a bridge to the space below the gum line. Brushing twice a daily and flossing once a day is essential for both preventing and reversing gingivitis. No amount of treatment from your dentist can compare to the power of improving your daily routine. Aside from what you’re doing daily, make a promise to yourself to visit for dental cleanings every six months no matter how much you’d rather skip the chore. Cleanings remove any tartar that is turning to plaque and gives the dentist a chance to catch early warning signs of hundreds of serious health problems, dental and otherwise.

Get Help from the Dentist

Follow the recommendations of the dentist even if they’re unpleasant. For example, a deep cleaning under the gum line causes a little residual soreness, but it also removes bacteria colonies and plaque in a way no amount of brushing and using medicated mouthwashes can accomplish. There are a handful of well-tested and proven techniques for managing gum disease, so it doesn’t progress and threaten the teeth, so take all treatments seriously and don’t skip them due to anxiety. Talk to your dentist about sedation options instead.

Change Your Diet

Finally, avoiding candy, sticky foods, and other sources of dental tartar can make a big difference in how fast you recover from gum disease. Reducing the amount of sugar in your mouth helps starve out the bacteria trying to colonize your gums. If you must enjoy your sweetened coffee or have a slice of cake after dinner, either brush or rinse your mouth out immediately to remove both lingering food particles and sugars. Don’t brush more than three times a day to avoid damage to the teeth and irritation of the gums which slows down your gingivitis recovery.

Gingivitis is a common medical condition that dentists often diagnose each day. If that’s a diagnosis you’ve recently received, the news isn’t all bad. Did you know that there are plenty of practical ways you can fight back against gingivitis?

It’s important to remember that gingivitis is reversible. That means you can take actionable steps to restore your gums to their former healthy selves. Here is what you need to know about gingivitis and the steps you can take to reverse it:

What is Gingivitis?

Gum disease is an umbrella term that includes all kinds of specific issues. One of them is gingivitis, a mild form of bacterial infection of your gum tissue. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to a more severe form of gum disease. In those cases, you could end up with periodontal disease or “periodontitis.”

In a nutshell, gingivitis occurs because there is a build-up of bacteria in your mouth. It’s important to note that it’s not an overnight thing that happens. It is a medical condition where bacteria builds up over a period.

For most people, a regular oral hygiene regime will prevent gingivitis from occurring. When you stop taking care of your teeth, bacteria will start to build up in your mouth. The bacteria get stronger by feeding on small bits of food that stay in your mouth after eating.

If bacteria doesn’t get removed on a regular basis, your teeth start to have a build-up of plaque and tartar. In case you didn’t know, plaque is a sticky yellow substance. It forms due to a reaction between the bacteria and saliva in your mouth.

Over time, plaque can calcify and turn into tartar. When that happens, only a dentist can remove it.

What are the Signs of Gingivitis?

It’s quite easy to spot the symptoms of gingivitis. The most common ones are as follows:

Bleeding gums, usually after brushing your teeth;
Constant bad breath;
Receding gum lines;
Loose and wobbling teeth;
Changes to the way your teeth “bite” and how they sit together.

If you suspect that you’ve got gingivitis, it’s crucial to have a proper diagnosis done by a dentist. That’s because, in some cases, you could have already developed periodontitis.

How to Reverse Gingivitis

Now you know about gingivitis, what it does and how to spot it. But, how do you reverse it? The good news is there are several simple and actionable steps you can take.

The first is to ensure you have regular visits to your dentist. That way, you can take action on any dental problems before things get out of hand. It also means you are less likely to need any dental work including surgery.

The next step is to set up a good oral hygiene regime at home. Brushing your teeth each day is an important task. If possible, you should do so after each meal. But, brushing just twice a day (once in the morning and again before bed) is a good start. Consider using an electric toothbrush with an oscillating head for the best results.

Next, you need to make sure you get rid of food particles stuck between your teeth. You can do that by flossing. Last, but not least, rinse your mouth out with mouthwash to get rid of any remaining bacteria.

It’s common for people to think that cavities are the biggest threat to their teeth, but cavities are actually unlikely to cause tooth loss. Cavities can lead to tooth infections that threaten the heath of a tooth, but the bigger cause of tooth loss is gum disease (periodontitis). The best way to keep teeth healthy and save teeth with gum disease is to consult a periodontal expert who understands all stages of periodontitis.

Gum disease more common than most believe

Gum disease presents a high risk for tooth loss because it’s more common than many believe and patients, therefore, may not be looking for signs of the disease. Periodontitis affects almost half of adults over 30 years old and of that half, 30% have moderate gum disease. Even moderate periodontitis can lead to bone loss around teeth and receding gums. In severe gum disease, there’s an increased danger of tooth loss. Knowing the signs of gum disease/periodontitis can help a person receive prompt treatment. These signs include:

• Swollen, red gums
• Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing
• Food debris between gums and teeth
• Teeth appear longer than they used to
• Dark areas around teeth
• Teeth sensitivity, especially deep in the tooth root
• Movement in teeth

For someone with one or more of these symptoms, it’s vital that they visit the dentist and begin treatment to reverse gum disease and avoid tooth loss.

Importance of periodontal expert

A periodontist has the experience and knowledge required to properly treat and reverse gum disease. As gum disease is so common, most dentists are periodontal specialists and have the proper dental training that focuses on tissues surrounding the teeth, bones and gums. Periodontists know the best options for treating gum disease and these can range from noninvasive treatments to surgery, and they work with their patients to find the best treatment to restore a healthy mouth and prevent tooth loss. An expert in treating periodontitis has the skill to prepare the mouth for whatever treatments are necessary and performs the procedures necessary to save teeth. If tooth loss does occur, a periodontist can place dental implants as needed to restore a patient’s smile and avoid the risk of bone loss from missing teeth.

If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of gum disease, it’s important to contact a qualified dentist right away to reverse the disease and restore your healthy mouth. Dupont Dental provides numerous dentistry services to protect and preserve your smile.

Everyone has heard about gum disease, but not everyone understands exactly what it is. To put it simply, gum/periodontal disease occurs when a buildup of plaque creates an infection in the tissues surrounding and supporting teeth. Plaque is the sticky film made up of bacteria that forms on teeth and requires constant removal to keep teeth and gums healthy. Unfortunately, there are a few myths about gum disease that give patients the wrong impression about it, and this can lead to serious oral health problems.

Myth 1 – Gum disease is uncommon

This is a very harmful myth as it can result in people believing they’re safe from gum disease because it’s not very common. The truth is that gum disease is quite common and that over half of adults 30+ years suffer from some degree of periodontal disease.

Myth 2- No cavities equals no gum disease

A mouth without cavities can still have gum disease, despite what some people believe. Gum disease is often painless, which means a person may not know they have it. Signs of the earliest stage of gum disease called gingivitis include red, swollen, tender or bleeding gums. Gingivitis is the only reversible stage of gum disease as long as it’s caught early and treated with a professional dental cleaning with a follow-up of daily brushing and flossing.

Myth 3- Gum disease always results in tooth loss

Although advanced stages of gum disease that go untreated can result in tooth loss, when gum disease receives early treatment, tooth loss is preventable. Good oral hygiene including twice daily brushing, flossing, eating well and visiting the dentist regularly help prevent gum disease and make it easier to spot the early signs of the disease if it develops.

Myth 4 – Bleeding gums are normal during pregnancy

Although some pregnant women may experience bleeding gums during pregnancy, not all expecting mothers do. It’s possible to prevent and treat bleeding gums with proper brushing and flossing and more frequent dental cleanings.

Myth 5 – Having diabetes means having gum disease

Having diabetes can increase the risk of oral health issues such as gum disease, but that doesn’t mean that someone with diabetes will definitely develop gum disease. Someone with diabetes needs to be extra diligent with his or her oral hygiene and continue regular dental visits to avoid oral health problems that may complicate their diabetes.

Myth 6 – Bad breath is a definite sign of gum disease

Bad breath may indicate the presence of gum disease, but there are other causes of bad breath including a medical disorder. Chronic bad breath can indicate an oral health issue that may or may not relate to gum disease, and the only way to know is by visiting the dentist.

It’s possible to reduce your risk of developing oral health issues including gum disease with proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits. Our experienced professionals at Dupont Dental are happy to dispel any myths about gum disease and answer your dental health questions.