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Good oral hygiene is vital to not only the strength and well-being of your teeth, but also for the health of your gums. At Maryland Center for Periodontics and Dental Implants, we're committed to helping you to avoid the effects of plaque, which is the primary cause of both tooth decay and gum disease. Plaque is a film-like substance that sticks to your teeth and gets between them. It erodes tooth enamel, and can lead to the irritation, inflammation, and even infection of your gums. Besides regular visits to our Towson periodontist, it is essential that you adhere to a strong daily regimen to keep your gums in top shape.
Most of the plaque that forms in your mouth is removed when you brush and floss every day. But it's a sneaky substance, and can hide between teeth and in gum pockets, evading the reach of your oral hygiene efforts. When that happens, the plaque can harden into tartar, which is just as hazardous to your oral health, but is not removable with typical brushing and flossing. For that, you will need a dental cleaning, also called prophylaxis, which is recommended for all our valued patients twice per year. Our Towson periodontist will do a thorough cleaning, which serves to eradicate all of the plaque and tartar that have managed to accumulate since your last visit here.
Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. Symptoms are usually mild, but it's important that it be addressed in a timely manner. A cleaning will reverse the results of gingivitis, although sometimes a second cleaning may be needed for a thorough job. If gingivitis is not stopped in its tracks by our Towson periodontist, it will continue to progress to the advanced stage of periodontitis. More obvious and severe symptoms are likely to be noticed, such as persistent bad breath, receding gums, bleeding gums when you brush, and possibly even loose teeth. A more invasive type of cleaning called scaling and root planing is needed at that juncture, and it consists of using hand scraping and/or ultrasonic tools to get down into the roots and remove the offending materials. Save yourself this inconvenience by scheduling a cleaning with us twice-yearly.
By Maryland Center for Periodontics & Dental Implants
January 15, 2016
