Have you noticed small traces of blood when you brush your teeth or bite into food? This could be the result of gum diseases such as gingivitis or periodontitis. Gum diseases are predominantly caused due to the activity of microbes in the mouth. They result in several painful and uncomfortable symptoms such as bleeding gums, the decay of tissues, etc.
How to know if I have gum disease?
Some of the commonly experienced symptoms by patients who have gum diseases are as follows:
- Discharge of pus from the gums
- The decay of the gum tissues
- The gum tissues may turn dark due to the infection
- Bleeding gums
- Pain while biting and chewing food
- Severe bad breath
- When the disease lasts for a long time, it may lead to loss of jawbone. Due to this, the teeth may loosen from their sockets.
The severity of the microbial activity
Despite brushing and flossing the teeth regularly, a lot of microbes tend to get left behind on the teeth in the hard-to-reach spots. They get accumulated on the teeth in the form of a transparent layer called plaque. When plaque stays on the teeth for a long time, it can turn into dark sticky substances called tartar or calculus. These deposits are filled with microbes and are the leading cause of most oral infections, gum diseases, cavities, etc. as they release acidic substances that damage tissues.
How can oral cleaning help?
Oral cleaning procedures such as scaling and root planing are the primary treatment options to treat gum diseases. The dentist removes the adhered microbes so that the living tissues around them recover from the damage. Scaling is the process of removing tartar deposits from the teeth surfaces, and root planing is used to get rid of tartar adhered to the tooth roots. A scaling tip that vibrates at ultrasonic frequencies is used for this purpose. It dislodges the tartar deposits, after which a jet of water washes them off. Root planing could be painful as the scaling tip is inserted in between the gums and tooth roots. Hence, the dentist may administer local anesthesia before starting it. Also, during root planing, the surface imperfections of the root surfaces will be smoothened out to prevent the accumulation of microbes.
Why are regular cleaning sessions important?
Dentists always recommend their patients visit them for a routine consultation at least once in six months. This allows the dentist to conduct a thorough examination of the oral cavity to check for the onset of cavities, adhered tartar deposits, gum diseases, decayed tissues, or any other oral conditions that you could be facing. They will treat them accordingly, restore the teeth to their ideal state, and suggest medication to arrest the infection if necessary.
Call us at (760) 433-9255 or schedule an online appointment to have a personal consultation with our highly-experienced dentists.