Deep Cleanings for Gum Disease: What to Expect

Your dental health means more than just a beautiful smile. Gum disease threatens your dental health, leading to problems that include the loss of teeth if left untreated. However, gum disease doesn’t need to get that far. Expert care and deep cleanings help restore your gums to a healthy state.

At Goodman Dental Center, our team is ready to give your gums and teeth the TLC they need when you’re having concerns. Leading our team are Dr. Brian Goodman and Dr. Tanner Goodman, both dental specialists. When you’re suffering from periodontal disease, the team gets you the best treatment possible.

What is gum disease?

Periodontal disease, which is a broad term for gum disease, happens when you have chronic inflammation and infections that affect your gums. According to the CDC, 47.2% of people over the age of 30 have some form of periodontal disease. As you get older, your chances of having periodontal disease increases.

There are two stages of periodontal disease — gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the milder stage. Here, your gums usually bleed easily and become swollen and red. However, gingivitis is reversible with proper oral care and a visit with our team.

Gingivitis can progress to periodontitis without the proper home care and treatment. In this stage of gum disease, plaque migrates under your gums and continues to grow. Plaque harbors toxins that begin to cause inflammation, turning your own body against your gums and bones in your mouth.

As periodontitis progresses, your gums and bones that hold your teeth in place are destroyed a little at a time. Your gums begin to pull away from your teeth, causing pockets that can become easily infected. If you don’t get it taken care of, periodontitis eventually leads to so much gum and bone loss that your teeth begin to come loose and may fall out.

Are there symptoms?

When you have early gum disease, it’s not always completely evident right away. However, there are warning signs you can keep an eye out for, some of which include:

Swollen, red gums
Bad breath that doesn’t go away
Bleeding gums when brushing
Loose teeth
Teeth that are separating
Receding gums
A change in the way your teeth align
Painful chewing

If you wear dentures and have periodontal disease, you may notice that there’s a change in the fit of your partials. You could also find that you have persistent sores in your mouth that don’t seem to go away. Pus between your teeth is another sign of gum infection and disease.

How deep cleanings can help

If our team discovers that you have gum disease, the first step is to get a good deep cleaning to avoid progression of the disease. This type of deep cleaning is different from a normal cleaning, and involves two things — scaling and root planing.

The deep cleaning for gum disease can be a little uncomfortable, so our team numbs your gums before starting the procedure. Scaling involves getting rid of tartar (hardened plaque) not only beneath your gums, but on your teeth as well. The team uses both instruments and a laser to effectively remove the tartar.

Next, the team performs root planing. This part of the cleaning smooths areas on the roots of your teeth, making it more difficult for plaque to stick. Root planing also allows our team to further remove bacteria that may be trapped and causing inflammation.

Since this form of deep cleaning is a little invasive, our team may put an antibiotic gel on your gums after the procedure, or prescribe oral antibiotics to discourage an infection.

After your deep cleaning, it’s not uncommon to have some sensitivity and discomfort for a few days. Your gums may be a little irritated, causing them to bleed with brushing. You could also have tooth sensitivity, which should subside relatively quickly.

If you’d like to schedule an appointment for a deep cleaning, don’t hesitate to call our office in Queen Creek, Arizona today at 480-485-7073. You can also book an appointment with our team conveniently on our website.