Part of keeping your teeth and gums healthy involves regular checkups with your dentist and bi-annual cleanings with your Broomfield dental hygienist. However, as you follow this regime, along with your daily brushing and flossing, your Broomfield dental hygienist might notice some issues with your gums that suggestion you need a deep cleaning.
This quick guide will explain the difference between a regular and deep cleaning, as well as what each one can offer in terms of keeping your mouth healthy.
What Is a Regular Cleaning?
A regular cleaning involves a physical exam to check for signs of gingivitis or other potential issues. If your Broomfield dental hygienist notices something, they might check-in with your dentist before proceeding.
Then your hygienist removes plaque and tartar from around your gum line and between your teeth. The more tartar you have, the more scraping that will need to occur. Brushing and flossing regularly can help to manage your tartar and keep this part of the process to a minimum.
Then they will use a gritty toothpaste to clean your teeth. Flossing is next, and then you might get a fluoride treatment, if your dental hygienist finds it necessary. X-rays may also be taken annually, depending on the schedule you already have in place with your Broomfield dental hygienist.
Deep Cleaning to Address Gum Disease
As part of your dental exam, your dental hygienist can check for bacteria pockets that are bigger than 45 mm. A deep cleaning can be used to address that bacteria buildup. This cleaning will scale away plaque and tartar but also goes deeper below the gumline to clean out the buildup of bacteria forming there.
Another aspect of a deep cleaning is the root planing. This process scraps away buildup from the roots of your teeth, combating gum disease. If you start to get gum disease, then the gums will detach from your teeth and reduce the support of your teeth, while creating spaces for more bacteria to accumulate.
Root planing reaches deep into those pockets that are being created by the gum disease. It can take time because your dental hygienist will be making sure that every pocket is completely cleaned out. The newly cleaned gums can reattach to the roots of your teeth. It could end up taking several visits to complete this process. When successful, it leaves you with a heathier mouth, while reversing or even halting the signs of gum disease. Your mouth is also likely to be sore for a few days and you may need medication to prevent any further infection. Your dentist may also look for signs of other issues in your mouth once your deep cleaning is finished.
If your gums are sore or bleeding, your Broomfield dental hygienist can help to determine if you would benefit from a deep cleaning. Contact us to learn more about the options available.