Many people will book themselves a dental appointment without even considering that they might need to have their gums looked at too. People often brush their teeth twice a day, but will frequently miss out cleaning their gums as efficiently, because they do not realize that their gums are just as important as their teeth.
More often than not people will only make an appointment to see their dental practitioner for a general check-up, but if your dentist recommends that you have an appointment with your dental hygienist in Edinburgh this is something that you should take seriously. People who have poor oral hygiene are more likely to need to have their teeth professionally cleaned, but even people who brush religiously can still benefit from having a deep clean, to ensure there is no plaque or tartar build-up.
A routine scale and polish can boost your overall health
If you are guilty of not brushing your teeth enough or you simply believe that it is time for your teeth to have a professional clean, then you should book an appointment as soon as possible to reduce your risk of experiencing more severe problems. If plaque and tartar are left to build up then you are more likely to develop gum disease.
The plaque sits on the surfaces of your teeth and is generally removed via brushing. However, if you have a poor routine when it comes to cleaning your teeth it is likely that this plaque will harden and you will no longer be able to get rid of it when you brush. Your dental practitioner will scrape all of the plaque away from your teeth and ensure that there is no build-up in the pockets of your gums either.
What could happen if you avoid seeing your dental professional?
If you avoid visiting your dental professional for a routine check-up then all sorts of problems can be created. A build-up of plaque might seem innocent enough, but that plaque could turn into gingivitis or gum disease and potentially cost you a lot more in the future when you require more costly and complex dental treatments to resolve your problems.
Gingivitis is where your gums become inflamed due to a build-up of plaque and bacteria that is within your mouth. You may notice that your gums bleed slightly when you brush your teeth, or you may suffer from bad breath. Whilst gingivitis is primarily non-destructive and has no painful symptoms, if left untreated it can turn into periodontitis (gum disease). Gum disease is gingivitis’ evil twin and can cause much more severe problems. When your gum tissue becomes damaged it can begin to destroy the bone that supports your teeth, as well as damaging the roots of your teeth too. This means that your gums are no longer strong enough to successfully hold your teeth in place, resulting in tooth loss. If you think that you are experiencing symptoms of gum disease then it is vitally important that you seek dental advice as soon as possible, so that you have the highest chance of resolving your problems and can lower your chances of experiencing tooth loss.