Why Root Planing Is an Important Part of Healthy Gums

Chronic periodontitis, also known as gum disease, can be painful and detrimental to your overall health if not treated promptly, and properly. Chronic periodontitis is a very common gum disease that causes swelling in the gums. This chronic inflammation is caused by a buildup of plaque. Early stages of gum disease include swollen, tender, or bleeding gums, and bad breath. Generally, the progression of gum disease is slow, and in the early stages can be reversible.

If gum disease is not treated properly, and if the plaque is not removed from below the gum line and from the teeth, pockets in the gum tissue can form between the teeth and gums. This is because the gums are detaching from the teeth, which if left untreated leads to tooth loss. Poor oral hygiene is one of the main reasons for getting chronic periodontitis, and if not addressed properly and fixed, poor oral hygiene habits can be expensive and debilitating.

Once these pockets in the gums are formed, they need to be cleaned out in order for healing to start. One of the first steps of healing is root planing in Toronto. Root planing is a very common and well-known treatment for chronic periodontitis. It is essentially a deep clean of the gums to remove plaque and bacterial build-up.

Root planing in Toronto involves smoothing down the surfaces of the teeth under the gum line. The roots of the teeth are smoothed, making it harder for plaque, toxins, and tartar to stick to the teeth. This allows for the gums to heal, and potentially reattach to the teeth.

The gums cannot begin to heal until the bacteria is removed, and the roots are all clean. If bone loss has happened, root planing in Toronto cannot grow them back, but root planing will make the gums healthier, pinker and firmer, which can prevent more tooth or bone loss from happening.

Root planing is generally a continuation of a traditional cleaning a dental hygienist does. For anyone who has sensitive gum tissue or teeth, root planing in Toronto can be done with freezing.

After root planing, it is normal for the teeth and gums to feel tender for a day or two. Rinsing with warm salt water can help soothe the tenderness. If the pain gets worse or lingers, call your dentist.

If proper oral hygiene is not done at home, then root planing in Toronto will not be affective long term. Flossing once daily and brushing twice daily are required to help maintain the teeth and gums between more in-depth cleaning appointments at the dentists.

Depending on how severe the condition of the gums is in, root planing in Toronto may be done in one appointment, or in a series of appointments. Root planing is a helpful part of keeping your gums firm and pink. Healthy gums and teeth roots are not as sensitive as gums that are inflamed due to periodontitis. This sensitivity can be limiting in terms of what temperatures of foods are comfortable to eat, and can cause both intense tooth pain and long-term health issues.

A smile is unique to the individual, and having healthy teeth and gums is part of what makes a good smile. Missing teeth and extremely swollen gums can make us feel self-conscious, on top of the health issues they can cause.

Root planing in Toronto is only effective if it is done well, and if proper dental hygiene is followed after the root planing in Toronto is done.