Does Clean Teeth Mean Healthy Gums?
When most people think of dental care, they think of how important it is to keep their teeth clean and healthy. Your gums are just as important to your oral health and should be given equal attention. By keeping your teeth free of plaque buildup, you can prevent gum infection and the progression of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. At Star Dental, we help treat periodontal disease to keep your gums and mouth in great condition.
Professional Teeth Cleaning
While brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day is the best way to keep your teeth and gums healthy, sometimes at-home dental care is not enough. Plaque — a soft, sticky film of bacteria — can build up on your teeth around the gum line. When plaque is not treated, it turns into a harder substance, known as tartar. Tartar can’t be removed by brushing alone and needs to be professionally cleaned at our office using our dental tools.
Left untreated, bacteria in the tartar can begin to irritate your gums, cause damage and lead to gingivitis, the first step of gum disease. During your routine checkups, we monitor for plaque and tartar buildup, and will remove any bacteria to make sure it does not progress.
Scaling and Root Planing
In the case that gingivitis has progressed and the gums have pulled away from your teeth causing spaces or pockets, we will have to treat the area to ensure no further damage occurs. This treatment is called scaling and root planing where we first remove all the plaque and tartar above and below the gumline, and then we smooth out the tooth roots to prevent further bacterial build up. This also helps your gums reattach to your teeth.
At Star Dental, your oral health is our top priority and we will take every measure to help you avoid or treat periodontal disease. Please call our office in Roseville, CA at 916-773-6222 if you are concerned about your gum health.
