Oral hygiene is very underrated. Most people are willing to spend thousands of dollars on their external features like their face, hair, legs, and arms, but they won’t put the necessary effort and money required into oral health. This is why we are unaware of all the treatments available for oral hygiene, one of which is known as dental scaling.
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What Is Dental Scaling?
Dental scaling is a procedure where you get all the tartar and plaque that has accumulated and set on your teeth and gums removed. Having hardened plaque is a common condition for most people. During this procedure, the dentist aims to remove all plaque, above and below the gum line, from your teeth. You can think of this as an oral deep-clean by professionals.
The Difference Between Dental Scaling And Dental Cleaning
Dental cleaning is not an invasive procedure. In this process, the dentist only cleans the surface of the teeth for plaque and buildup, and there is no gum cleaning involved. In dental scaling, the dentist cleans above and below the gums. The dentist removes every bit of plaque, especially the plaque collected below the gums.
Why Is Dental Scaling Done?
Every person has some form of plaque buildup on their teeth. A thin layer forms from saliva, proteins, and bacteria, which will remain on your teeth at most times. When you eat or drink something, the food particles, sugar, and other proteins stick to this layer and form plaque. This plaque has bacteria that can decay and damage teeth and gums, respectively, which is why you should brush and floss daily. Occasional dental cleanings are also recommended to keep healthy oral hygiene.
What Happens When This Plaque Is Not Removed?
When plaque buildup is not removed, healthy gums start to bleed and slowly start receding. If you have healthy teeth and gums, you will notice that your gum tissues fit perfectly around your teeth to keep plaque out. If you have unhealthy teeth and gums, the gum tissues loosen. Healthy gums are attached 1-3 mm below the gum line to the teeth, but in case of any gum disease, these gum pockets start deepening to form a “v” like structure and start filling with plaque. This condition can lead to sensitive gums, blood, and bad breath.
