Scaling and Root Planing vs. Routine Teeth Cleaning

Routine brushing and flossing are essential to maintaining good dental health, but they’re not the end of the story. There are places where a brush and floss can’t reach, like under the gumline, that need to be handled by a professional.

That’s why at Hometown Family Dental Centers, with locations in Fayetteville, Vass, and Raeford, North Carolina, our expert dental professionals offer professional dental cleanings that may include scaling and root planing to remove hardened plaque, known as tartar. You should plan on coming in twice a year to complement your at-home routine.

What is involved in routine teeth cleaning?

Routine teeth cleaning is the brushing and flossing you do at home between dentist visits.

Brushing

Brushing your teeth removes dental plaque, a sticky, colorless film of bacteria, sugars, and food debris. If left alone, plaque can harden into tartar, leading to tooth decay and gum (periodontal) disease.

Even teeth that have fillings can develop decay, either on the tooth surface around the filling or underneath a chipped filling. And if you have areas where your gums have pulled away from the teeth (gum recession), the exposed tooth roots can also decay.

When you brush, use a soft-bristled brush to avoid damaging your gums, and use fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride strengthens the tooth’s hard outer enamel and can even remineralize enamel that has developed pits.

Angle the bristles at about 45 degrees toward the gum line. That way, they clean between the gums and teeth. Use small, circular motions — don’t scrub — and brush all sides of each tooth, even behind the back of the tooth farthest back in your mouth. Finish by brushing your tongue; it can harbor bacteria, too.

Remember to replace your toothbrush when the bristles become worn every 3-4 months.

Flossing

Cleaning between your teeth is also part of a good oral hygiene routine, as plaque can hide out in these hard-to-reach places. If you don’t remove it, it can harden below the gum line, causing irritation.

As plaque infiltrates, the gums become red, swollen, and bleed easily, like when you’re brushing. These are signs of gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. You can usually reverse it with daily brushing and flossing.

If plaque remains on the teeth too long, it can harden into calculus (tartar). You can’t remove this yourself; only a dentist or dental hygienist can do it. And if the tartar remains, the gingivitis can lead to more severe gum disease, known as periodontitis.

In its advanced stages, gum disease causes sore, bleeding gums; difficulty chewing; gum pain; loose teeth; and even tooth loss.

What are scaling and root planing?

Scaling and root planing are part of the larger process of the twice-annual dental visit.

A dental hygienist performs most teeth cleanings at these visits. Before they clean, they physically examine your entire mouth, using a small mirror to check for any signs of gum disease or other concerns.

Next, using the mirror to guide them, they use a scaler to get rid of plaque and tartar around your gum line and between your teeth. This is plaque build-up that has remained on your teeth after you brushed and flossed and has hardened. The more tartar you have, the more time the hygienist needs to scrape a particular spot.

If your gums have started pulling away from the tooth roots, the hygienist also performs root planing — smoothing the root surface so bacteria have a harder time sticking to it. It also allows the gums to reattach to the roots, reversing the progression of gum disease.

Both of these procedures can only be performed in the dentist’s office, and the dentist may also apply fluoride to your teeth, do a deep flossing, and check for any signs of oral cancer while you’re there.

Routine teeth cleaning is essential for your oral health, and so is seeing your dentist twice a year for check-ups and procedures you can’t do at home. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with Hometown Family Dental Centers, contact our office by phone or on the website.