Periodontal Maintenance vs Regular Cleaning

Teeth and gums; gums and teeth. You can’t have one without the other. A delicate system that works together to not only assist you with daily nutrition but also the ability to speak and finally, the ability to smile. Regular cleaning is necessary to keep your teeth clean and healthy. The introduction of periodontal maintenance focusing on the soft tissue of the gums keeping them healthy as well. There is a bit of a cause and effect though with the two. One could argue that if your teeth are properly cleaned you would never need periodontal maintenance. Let’s break the two procedures down to see the difference.

Regular Teeth Cleaning, or Prophylaxis

All of us are advised to brush our teeth twice a day and floss between our teeth once. This is because all of us have millions of bacteria in our mouth each and every day. If allowed to sit on the teeth that bacteria turn into a sticky substance called plaque. The plaque harbors an acid that will immediately attack the enamel of the tooth resulting in a cavity. If you brush will you will remove the daily plaque so the cycle can begin again as soon as you put the brush down.

Regular cleaning is the epitome of prevention. You should schedule examinations twice a year. X-rays monitor and create a history of the health of your teeth below the surface. After a thorough exam searching for cavities or other defects you are subjected to a professional teeth cleaning. The use of a scaler tool or an ultrasonic device removes any and all damaging plaque that you might have missed. Now comes the cause and effect scenario.

The Periodontal Maintenance Procedure

If you were to keep your teeth plaque-free you may never need periodontal maintenance. This procedure is when the plaque builds up, cascades down the tooth and comes in contact with the soft tissue of the gums. The results are an immediate gum infection with the soft tissue swelling, becoming tender to the touch and starting to sag away from the teeth. Now the teeth cleaning needs to progress down the tooth. You may need a local anesthetic or possibly even a sedative as the scaling process goes down the root to remove that damaging plaque.

As soon as the plaque is removed the soft tissue will begin to heal. The inflammation will recede, the proper color will return and the sagging pockets around the teeth will subside. If left unattended periodontal disease can result in loose teeth and bone loss and even the loss of teeth. All of which can be prevented.

Regular periodontal maintenance may be necessary if you have encountered periodontal disease and are prone to it returning. In fact, once your dentist understands your at home oral hygiene and your dietary habits it may be wise to schedule periodontal maintenance more than twice a year. You may want to consider diet changes limiting sugars or starchy foods. This is all about healthy teeth, healthy gums and a very healthy smile.

More on Periodontal Maintenance : What is Dental Prophylaxis?