Periodontal disease can have a detrimental effect on your oral health so if you are diagnosed with gingivitis or a more severe form of periodontal disease, it is so important to receive the treatment that your dentist recommends and to begin a routine of more frequent professional cleanings.
In order to diagnose periodontal disease, your dental hygienist will measure the depth of the gum pockets between your gum tissue and tooth structure. Healthy gum pockets measure only a few millimeters but if they measure a depth of five or more millimeters, your hygienist may advise you to have a deep cleaning in the form of scaling and root planing. During a scaling and root planing, the area being treated is numbed with a local anesthetic. This allows the hygienist to scale deep below the gum surface to remove plaque buildup and bacteria which will allow your gum tissue to heal closer to the tooth structure. Scaling and root planing is usually completed over the course of a couple of appointments, typically one side of the mouth at a time. This makes it easier on the patient and avoids numbing the entire mouth at one extended visit.
Left untreated, periodontal disease can rapidly lead to gum recession, loss of bone structure, and eventually tooth loss. After you have received a scaling and root planing, you may experience some discomfort which will subside within a few days. It is important to maintain a more frequent cleaning schedule to make sure your gums remain healthy. Let's take a look at some of the side effects you might experience after scaling and root planing and how to care for your teeth after.
Side Effects and Care
It is normal to experience a bit of bleeding when you floss and brush your teeth as well as a minor tooth sensitivity. You can also expect to experience a bit of swelling and irritation which should be manageable with over-the-counter pain medications. All of this should begin to diminish within a few days as your gum tissue heals. You may benefit from incorporating a toothpaste for sensitive teeth as well as an antibiotic mouthwash. Your dentist will help you determine which oral care products will be best for you to use while you heal.
As you heal, your gum tissue will be sore and tender so you will want to avoid eating anything overly crunchy or hard to chew such as granola or crusty bread. After eating, consider rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water solution to help clear food particles from your open gum pockets. This will also serve as a soothing way to calm inflammation and irritation.
Oral Hygiene After Scaling and Root Planing
It is important that you are extra gentle when brushing and flossing after scaling and root planing. Your gum tissue will be very tender but it is important to maintain a good and proper oral care routine. Your dentist will likely want to see you 4 to 6 weeks after your deep cleaning to make sure that everything is healing properly and to re-measure your gum pockets. Any pockets that have not progressed may need an antibiotic chip which your hygienist can place to help the healing progress and clear any infection.
Patients that receive a deep cleaning often need to have a professional cleaning more often than the standard every six months. Periodontal patients may require a maintenance cleaning every three to four months to prevent reinfection.