If you arrive at your next routine dental exam with no oral health problems, you can go through your appointment with nothing more than the expected teeth cleaning and evaluation. However, if your Ankeny, IA dentist identifies any issues, they can recommend services to address them and stop them from worsening. One problem that we can identify is gingivitis. If an infection has started to affect your gum line, we can perform a deep periodontal cleaning. Rather than provide a standard teeth cleaning, which focuses only on the portions of your teeth that sit above the gum line, this procedure will remove bacteria that are building up on the roots. This service clears away microbes that are responsible for your gingivitis, which can protect you from long-term issues connected to gum disease.
Are You In Need Of A Periodontal Cleaning?
Periodontal cleanings, also known as scaling and root planing treatments, are not provided at every appointment. This more involved approach to cleaning your smile is only recommended when your dentist observes areas of your gum line affected by gum disease. You can lower your risk for this infection by routinely brushing and flossing thoroughly. Take care to clean thoroughly at your gum line with your toothbrush and floss string so that you can keep bacteria from moving below that line and causing periodontal troubles.
Here Are Some Signs Of Gingivitis That You Can Identify
You can actually identify the signs of gingivitis between appointments. When you do so, take it as a sign that you need to work at cleaning the base of your teeth more thoroughly, and to work the floss at your gums. The signs of trouble you can identify are:
- Frequent bouts of bad breath
- Gums that bleed easily when you brush and floss
- Swollen or discolored tissues
- A change in your gum line
Be sure to see your dentist regularly, even when you are not noticing these signs or experiencing symptoms of any other oral health issues. If you overlook problems, they can worsen and ultimately become more difficult to manage!
Other Benefits To Regularly Seeing Your Dentist
If you see your dentist regularly, you will receive helpful updates about your oral and periodontal health. You will also receive treatments to stop problems that have developed since your last appointment. Gum disease that is not caught in time will worsen, and that can make an infection difficult to manage. Problems with tooth decay also grow more severe in time – eventually, a cavity will be too big for a dental filling, at which point a dental crown can be needed.
Talk To Your Ankeny, IA Dentist About Scheduling A Periodontal Cleaning
Your Ankeny, IA dentist can identify signs of gingivitis and recommend periodontal cleaning, which will fight the bacteria responsible for your infection. To learn more about this and other services that we provide, contact Dental Impressions at (515) 965-0230 to schedule a visit.
