Run your tongue along the gumline behind your lower front teeth. Do you feel a ridge? This is probably tartar or dental calculus.
Even if you brush and floss regularly, plaque and tartar can gradually accumulate. If not removed, these bacteria-breeding substances cause the gums to become irritated and swollen. Eventually, the gums become detached from the tooth, creating a ‘pocket’. This creates a new space for plaque and tartar to grow. In advanced stages of periodontal disease, the toxins created by the bacteria rot the gum, teeth, and bone.
At Smiles for Life Dental Care, we perform the most thorough dental cleanings possible. Gum disease can be reversed in its early stages.
Our goal is to help our dental patients prevent gum disease before any damage occurs. Cleanings include root planing and periodontal scaling. Scaling removes the plaque and calculus above and, especially, below the gumline where your toothbrush cannot reach. Planing smooths root surfaces so it is more difficult for plaque and tartar to accumulate and grow. It also creates a healthy surface for the gums to reattach to the root if necessary.
In addition to providing comprehensive dental cleanings, we create mega-watt smiles for cosmetic dentistry patients in the Bridgewater and Staunton areas.
