Dental hygiene helps counter bad breath and avoid gum disease. Therefore brushing and flossing is essential besides visiting the dentist in Chicago for routine cleanings. On occasions, your dentist might recommend deep teeth cleaning. You must not be surprised if you receive a suggestion that you require deep teeth cleaning by your dentist.
Indicators that you might need deep teeth cleaning include bleeding and receding gums and loose teeth. Alternately called periodontal scaling and root planing, deep teeth cleaning is standard but has risks.
This article provides information about deep cleaning teeth, including the benefits and downsides of this process.
Deep Teeth Cleaning Explained
Deep teeth cleanings help remove the buildup of plaque and tartar from your teeth, reducing gum inflammation and enhancing gum health. Your teeth develop a sticky film of plaque constantly containing bacteria and forming when food particles mix with your saliva. Brushing your teeth daily allows the removal of plaque but doesn’t eliminate plaque between your teeth which hardens into tartar.
You can develop gum disease by accumulating plaque and tartar, including gingivitis with inflammation of the gums. Gingivitis advances to periodontitis if left untreated. Periodontitis is a severe infection destroying the bone supporting your teeth.
What Are the Advantages of Deep Cleaning Teeth?
If gum disease causes your gums to recede from your teeth, creating a space higher than 5 mm deep, you need deep cleaning teeth. If the condition worsens, the gap between your teeth and gums will continue to widen and weaken the bones supporting your teeth, causing loose teeth or tooth loss.
When your dentist recommends deep cleaning teeth, the benefits of this procedure include stopping the progress of gum disease and treating the existing infection to promote healing. In addition, the cleaning helps protect the roots of your teeth, eliminate bad breath emanating from gum disease, and clean your teeth above and below the gum line.
What Are the Disadvantages of Deep Cleaning Teeth?
Although deep cleaning teeth help treat gum disease, the side effects of deep teeth cleaning will confront you. The disadvantages of deep cleaning teeth include nerve damage and potential infections if you have a compromised immune system. The cleaning might cause pain, and sensitivity in the treatment doesn’t guarantee reattachment of your gums to the teeth. The cleaning might even cause further gum recession.
Pain and sensitivity are familiar side effects after deep cleaning teeth. The risks from this procedure are minimal and last for about a week. However, the discomfort may extend for a few weeks in severe cases.
What Does the Deep Cleaning Procedure Entail?
Deep cleaning teeth differs from routine cleaning because routine cleanings remove plaque and tartar on your teeth above the gum line. On the other hand, plaque and tartar below the gum line are eliminated during a deep cleaning.
Gum disease causes gaps between your teeth and gums where plaque and tartar remain trapped. The dentist eliminates plaque buildup below the gum line.
Deep cleaning teeth require two or more visits to your dentist and entail gum scaling and root planing. Each visit involves a couple of hours. The dentist removes plaque and tartar below the gum line during tooth scaling. When you revisit the dentist for root planing, the dentist removes plaque and tartar forming on your tooth roots. The process helps reduce the size of the gaps between your teeth and gums to help your gums reattach to the teeth.
You receive a prescription for antibiotics for a few days if you have a compromised immune system. The antibiotics are prescribed because of the risks associated with the procedure. In addition, deep cleaning teeth can release bacteria into your bloodstream.
Is Deep Cleaning Teeth Painful?
You might experience some discomfort during teeth scaling and root planing. However, you receive a topical or local anesthetic to numb your gums. Some sensitivity after the process is expected. You might experience swelling in the gums and minor bleeding.
After receiving a deep cleaning, you must exist on soft foods to help reduce sensitivity. You must also avoid scorching and freezing foods and drinks. You can take over-the-counter pain relievers for inflammation and rinse with saltwater.
Brushing and flossing stringently promotes healing and reduces gum inflammation. However, you must use a soft-bristled toothbrush when brushing twice daily and floss at least once during the day or night.
Family Dental Care — Chicago performs deep cleaning teeth on many patients visiting them with early or advanced gum disease. If you notice your gums swelling, please schedule an appointment with this practice to receive a deep cleaning and prevent gum disease from progressing.
