What Is Periodontal Cleaning? How Often Does You Need To Clean?

The term periodontal relates to the word periodontium, which covers the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. This includes the gums, the periodontal ligaments, and alveolar bones. So periodontal cleaning refers to the cleaning of gums and teeth to prevent the worsening of your gum health due to certain periodontal diseases.

All You Need To Know About The Periodontal Cleaning

This procedure is very safe and effective in clearing the buildup of disease-causing microorganisms as well as stains making your teeth brighter and healthier. Now we will see more in detail about this process and what to expect.

What Do You Mean By periodontal cleaning?

Periodontal cleaning is basically deep cleaning your teeth and gums. This procedure is very comprehensive, with steps like scaling and root planning. Your dentists may suggest you get this procedure after oral examinations, gum measurements, and dental X-rays.  Periodontal cleaning is recommended for people with some sort of periodontal disease, or to reduce the progression of such diseases. These diseases are commonly known as gum disease and they can be quite serious if left untreated and impact your dental health very badly. So periodontal cleaning is a timely intervention to protect your oral health and improve the aesthetic appearance of your teeth as well.

The process of periodontal cleaning

Let us go over the processes involved in periodontal cleaning.

• Prep

Your doctor will ask you to get an X-ray to get a proper idea of the condition of your teeth and gums. They may go over your medical history as well. You may also get a local anesthetic to reduce the pain and discomfort.

• Getting rid of plaque and tartar

Now comes the main process where your dentist clears the plaque and tartar buildup. They may make use of specialized devices like ultrasound or manual scrappers to get rid of the tartar from the surfaces of your teeth and from below the gum line. This process focuses on all the places that you would usually miss out on cleaning while you brush or floss. The areas like the deep pockets may be missed in your daily process so this scaling process targets all those areas.

• Root planning

The next step after scaling is root smoothing. This is when your dentist smoothens the surface of the root of the teeth. Here leftover buildup is cleared and the accumulation will be significantly reduced as the surface of the roots is very smooth now. Plus it helps the gums to reattach to the teeth. 

• Further treatments

The pockets in your gums and teeth will be flushed with an antimicrobial solution to prevent bacterial growth, support healing, and reduce the risks of infection. In some cases, an antimicrobial is directly placed in these pockets for the same purpose. For the final touches the teeth are polished removing any further stains and preventing the accumulation of plaque. After that, your dentists may recommend some tips and techniques to maintain the results of this periodontal cleaning.        

Regular cleaning vs. periodontal cleaning

Regular cleaning and periodontal cleaning have considerable differences. When it comes to regular cleaning the dentists are just clearing the regions of plaque buildup.  It is more like a maintenance procedure and is used as a preventative measure to avoid any tooth degeneration. 

Periodontal cleaning is a bit more extensive procedure than regular cleaning. This is a treatment option for individuals experiencing periodontal diseases to remove plaque and tartar buildup. But this cleaning process goes below the gumline to where the roots, gums, and bones meet. This procedure involves scaling and root planning. The root surfaces are also smoothed if required.

Periodontal cleaning is generally recommended by a dentist when there is a risk of periodontal diseases so this procedure is performed based on the examination of your dentist. Regular cleaning is often recommended every six months if there are any other issues with your oral health.

Benefits of periodontal cleaning 

• Prevents gum diseases from getting worse: This cleaning target buildup way below the gumline. This stops the gum conditions from progressing and getting worse. So by removing the tartar and plaque buildup we are eliminating future risks and complications
• Decreases inflammation: All this buildup of plaque and tartar may cause irritation and swelling. So getting rid of them means this treatment will alleviate the symptoms associated with gum diseases like inflammation.
• Reinforce your tooth root and jawbones: Healthy gums are essential for solid support for teeth and jaw bones. By undergoing deep cleaning it can reduce gum receding and the exposing of roots. Exposed roots may cause many complications in the future which can be avoided by this procedure.
• Better smiles: Periodontal cleaning enhances the appearance of your teeth making them look cleaner and brighter. Which can be a real confidence booster.

Side effects and risks of periodontal cleaning

Some people may experience slight difficulties while undergoing this procedure. Let us take a look at some of them.

• Sore gums       
• Pain and sensitivity 
• A minor case of bleeding gums
• Noticeable gaps in between your teeth

Very few people may be more prone to infections. However, generally, this procedure is very safe and the positives of this treatment far outweigh the side effects and risks associated with it. In most cases these risks are very minor and not something to be worried about. 

Aftercare and maintenance 

It is important to follow the instructions recommended by your dentist for a proper healing process. It is better to not eat anything immediately after the procedure. Some experts suggest waiting at least two hours before consuming anything.

A warm salt water gargle is recommended to soothe the pain and swelling.  Do not use any hard brushes. Make use of soft bristle brushes and sensitive toothpaste and brush very gently. Smoking is to be prohibited for a minimum of 2 days following the procedure. Follow up with your doctor and see if things are all ok. 

Conclusion

Periodontal cleaning targets extensive clearing of plaque and tartar buildups. This procedure is generally recommended by the dentist to reduce the progression of periodontal diseases or eliminate the risk of having one. This deep cleaning is a very safe and effective process. You have to follow proper aftercare instructions for smooth healing and to reduce all the chances of side effects, even though they are very minor and rarely cause any serious complications. 

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