How a Dental Cleaning Helps Prevent Gum Disease

Seeing your dentist for professional dental cleaning during your regular visits can help prevent gum disease. Studies show that this condition develops at a slow pace. It occurs when food particles and bacteria get into the gum pockets. Here are details on how a routine dental cleaning can prevent gum disease.

What causes gum disease

Plaque forms every day on the surfaces of teeth. It is a sticky substance that keeps accumulating. Plaque can also form between teeth and on gums because of incorrect dental care practices. This causes gum pain and swelling. Swollen gums tend to shrink back from the teeth. These gum pockets tend to harbor bacteria and food particles, resulting in more irritation.

Failing to address this issue will lead to the progress of gum disease. Dismissing this condition can damage the bone and soft tissues that support the teeth later on. Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease. The dentist can catch the symptoms with regular dental cleaning.

What a routine dental cleaning can do to prevent gum disease

Incorrect dental care will leave plaque on teeth. Even if an individual brushes and flosses, there will still be areas that cannot receive proper cleaning. The remaining plaque will then harden into tartar. Regular brushing and flossing cannot remove this tough substance.

Professional dental cleaning can remove tartar and the remaining plaque with efficient equipment, such as scalers. The dentist can reach difficult areas where food particles and bacteria gather. Specific tools at the clinic can clean every corner of the oral cavity. A rough toothpaste and an industrial toothbrush can remove the leftover plaque and tartar particles.

Routine dental cleaning can reverse gum disease

Sticking to regular dental checkups means having a dental cleaning each time. It gives the dentist the chance to check if there are early signs of gum disease. At this point, treating the condition would be easier. But when this condition sets in, the dentist will perform treatments that can reverse the effects of gum disease. These interventions aim to keep the teeth intact.

Benefits of regular dental cleaning

An initial diagnosis of gum disease will start a deep dental cleaning treatment. Scaling and root planing can clean out the bacteria and plaque between the teeth and gums. This can remove tartar and plaque even from the dental roots. This removes any source of irritation and infection.

Regular dental cleaning can prevent bacteria from traveling to the teeth and gums into the patient’s bloodstream. This can trigger the onset of chronic diseases, such as heart disease. It protects the teeth by preventing the formation of gum pockets and tooth loosening. Dental cleaning can also reduce persistent bad breath.

After a deep dental cleaning

This type of treatment can leave the gums and teeth sensitive for about three days. Avoid cold or hot foods and drinks. Eating soft foods can help prevent discomfort after the cleaning. The patient’s teeth should feel strong and healthy within two to three weeks. The dentist may prescribe over-the-counter mouthwash or antibiotics. Practice good daily oral hygiene and see the dentist for regular dental cleaning.