Are you someone who cleans their teeth regularly and knows how to floss effectively? You may do this once or twice per day and think that you are doing particularly well with your dental regimen, but in reality, this is probably not enough. Maybe you've noticed some discomfort or even drops of blood when you have been performing your daily ablutions, and if so, this is a sign that you may need a deep cleaning procedure instead. Why should you need this and what is involved?

Ongoing Assault

While you are doing very well to keep up with the aforementioned routine, in many cases this is not enough. It can be difficult to be very precise with standard home-based solutions, and tiny particles of food may often be left behind. When this happens, it could lead to a buildup of bacteria and the formation of tartar or calculus, which can penetrate underneath the gum line. As this happens, further miniature particles of food may be collected, and this situation gradually gets worse. Eventually, the body's immune system will try to respond and will inflame the area as it tries to fight off a bacterial infection. Those tell-tale spots of blood are an indication that this battle has commenced, and you need to visit your dentist.

Not Alone

Gum disease is prevalent amongst the population in various forms, and while it is preventable, it is also treatable and ultimately curable so long as you visit a professional. They will be able to diagnose your particular situation and will be able to see if periodontal pockets exist in places where the gums may have been pulled away from the teeth.

The Procedure

If this condition is uncovered, you will need a deep cleaning session, which will involve root planing and scaling. Once the dentist has administered a local anaesthetic, they will carefully clean just under the gum line to get rid of all the debris and calculus. Then, they will shape the root structure of the tooth so it will be able to resist the formation of bacteria in the future.

Scheduling Your Visit

This procedure may be carried out by your dentist or skilled hygienist, and while it may take some time to complete, it is well worth the effort. You should be able to recover quite easily, although the dentist may prescribe a dose of antibiotics to clear up any infection.

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