What is Periodontal Maintenance?

The definition of prevention is the action of stopping something bad from happening. In this case it is taking care of your teeth and gums to prevent disease. It is far more economically feasible to be proactive and stay healthy versus avoiding the treatment and resulting in expensive reactive measures to remove the negative results. We’ll walk through the natural transition daily with your teeth and gums and why proactive maintenance is beneficial. Periodontal care goes beyond the teeth and focuses on the health of your soft tissue, the gums.

The Development of Plaque and Tartar

Every day we have millions of bacteria in our mouths. Every one of us develops plaque from the combination of our diets and saliva. No one is exempt. It only takes four hours for plaque to start forming on your teeth. If left undisturbed the plaque, which now carries harmful acids, will begin to attack the enamel of the tooth resulting in damaging cavities. This is why it is so important to brush twice a day and floss between your teeth at least once. You are removing that damaging plaque. It is a vicious cycle as the plaque will start all over right after you brush. If you leave plaque on your teeth it will reach the gumline and immediately infect the soft tissue. Therefore, periodontal maintenance is as important to many of us as regular cleaning of the teeth.

Regular Dental Teeth Cleaning

In addition to the strong suggestion of brushing and flossing the health industry suggests that you also see your dentist twice a year for a regular examination. X-rays will monitor and document what is going on below the surface. After a thorough examination the appointment is concluded with a good professional cleaning of your teeth. The dentist or hygienist will remove all the plaque and tartar from your teeth with a hand scaler or an ultrasonic device. Quite honestly your teeth will feel fantastic.

Periodontal Maintenance

If you develop an excessive amount of plaque it may be necessary to remove plaque that has developed on the roots below the gumline. If your gums have become infected in the past, they may have sagged away from some of your teeth creating abnormally larger pockets. Unfortunately, these larger pockets only make it easier for food particles to get trapped and making them more difficult for you to remove with your brushing. The extended scaling will keep your gums healthy. It can also improve the heath of the roots themselves and even your jawbone. If the scaling is extensive there may be the introduction of a local anesthetic or even some level of sedation.

Periodontal Maintenance may have to be scheduled more often than twice a year. You and your dentist can determine the frequency once you have restored the condition of your soft tissue. You many find it necessary to improve your at home oral hygiene habits as well and identify those sugars or starchy foods. These efforts maintain and protect an invaluable asset, that being your smile.

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