Dental Scaling For Gum Disease Treatment And Prevention

Sore gums and loose teeth are telltale signs of gum disease. You need to visit your dentist to do a thorough cleaning of your mouth to prevent infection. Your dentist may recommend you to undergo dental scaling and root planing to address oral problems such as gingivitis.

Teeth scaling is a process where your dentist scrapes away tartar from your teeth and gums. It comes along with root planing, where your dentist smoothens out rough spots found on the tooth root.

Addressing gum disease treatment

Scaling and root planing are effective means to clean the teeth and gums for periodontal disease treatment. Periodontal or gum diseases can happen when you don’t observe regular oral care.

On average, dental scaling and root planing can improve the gap of teeth and gums by 0.5 millimetres.

Your dentist does teeth scaling to get rid of any bacteria found in the plaque. If you suffer from gum disease, you might notice that your gums pull away from your teeth. 

Symptoms of gum disease

It’s hard to reach beyond the gum lines when brushing. Bacteria can grow on these spaces, and this can later lead to mouth sores and infection. Infection can cause loss of tissue and bone, and you may soon need gum inflammation treatment.

Gum disease shows the following manifestations:

• Bleeding gums
• Sore gums
• Loose permanent teeth
• Change in bite

Prevention

You can avoid oral issues that may require periodontal treatment by considering these factors:

• Dental hygiene
• Nutrition
• Smoking
• Family history

Procedure for dental scaling and root planing

The steps that you can expect during a scaling and root planing procedure are as follows:

1. Your dentist will examine your mouth to see the condition of your teeth and gums.
2. A local anesthetic will be administered so you won’t feel any discomfort during the procedure.
3. Your dentist will use double-ended scalers to scrape the plaque off your teeth or between your teeth and gums.
4. Once done, the next step is to do root planing for smoothing out the tooth root.
5. Your dentist will prescribe oral antibiotics to ensure that you can recover fast.

After-care instructions

Once the scaling procedure is complete, maintain your oral hygiene by doing the following:

• Brush your teeth twice daily.
• Use dental floss to reach areas in your teeth that couldn’t be brushed thoroughly.
• Schedule regular appointments with your dentist.

Dental scaling doesn’t only apply to people who suffer from gum disease. You also need one to maintain your healthy teeth and gums. Consult your Toronto dentist to know if the treatment suits you.