Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums that can progress to affect the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth. It is caused by the bacteria in plaque, a sticky film that constantly forms on your teeth. If not removed through daily brushing and flossing, plaque can build up and the bacteria infect not only your gums and teeth, but eventually the tissue and bone that support the teeth. This can cause teeth to become loose, fall out or have to be removed by a dentist.
A professional cleaning by your dental professional is the only way to remove plaque that has built up and hardened into tartar.
Your dentist will clean or “scale” your teeth to remove the tartar above and below the gumline. If your condition is more severe, a root planing,”deep clean” procedure may be performed. Root planing helps to smooth irregularities on the roots of the teeth making it more difficult for plaque to deposit there.
By scheduling regular checkups, early stage gum disease can be treated before it leads to a much more serious condition.