Why Your Dentist May Recommend Teeth Scaling in Toronto

Life can get busy and its easy to lose track of things like regular dental appointments. However, if it has been a while since your last cleaning, your dentist my recommend a deeper clean, also know as teeth scaling. But what is teeth scaling, how does it differ from a routine cleaning, and why might it be the right treatment for you?

Teeth scaling vs. Routine Cleaning

During a routine cleaning, your dentist will examine your teeth and gums and clean and remove any built-up plaque and tartar from in-between the teeth and gums.  It is recommended that you schedule regular cleanings every 6 to 9 months. However, if it has been more then a year since your last routine cleaning, bacteria and tartar may have begun to build up not only in between the teeth but also in under the gum line and possibly even around the root of the tooth. Teeth scaling is a method of cleaning away the tartar build-up from pockets that have formed below the gum line. In more advanced cases, or in cases of gum disease, root planning, a process in which bacteria and plaque from around the root is removed, may be required.

Why You May Need Teeth Scaling in Toronto

It is perfectly normal to have some level of plaque and tartar build-up accumulate between regular dental cleanings. In normal circumstances for individuals with healthy teeth and gums, the gums form a tight barrier around the tooth preventing the build-up of bacteria and tartar under the gumline. However, for individuals in early or more advanced stages of gum disease, pockets – areas where the gumline has loosened from the tooth – begin to form. These pockets, if left untreated, eventually fill with bacteria and tartar which can lead to various serious oral health issues, including periodontal disease and tooth decay.

If you are unsure, there are serval signs that you may need teeth scaling in Toronto. Red, swollen, tender gums and persistent bad breath are strong indications that bacteria is collecting in pockets that have formed beneath the gum line. If your gums appear to be receding from the tooth or if you have noticed lose teeth, you may be suffering from periodontal disease, a serious oral infection that needs to be addressed through teeth scaling and root planning. Regular dental cleaning is best for avoiding these types of serious oral health issues. However, with teeth scaling in Toronto, many of these symptoms can be treated and potentially reversed, helping to restore your heathy teeth and gums.