Gum health and periodontal care
Bleeding gums, gingivitis versus periodontitis, deep cleaning, maintenance intervals and what a periodontal chart means.
- Gum health and periodontal care
Deep cleaning versus a routine cleaning: what each one treats
A routine cleaning (a prophylaxis) removes plaque, tartar and stain from the visible parts of the teeth and just under the gum edge in a mouth whose supporting bone is…
- Gum health and periodontal care
Can gum disease develop without pain?
Yes, and it usually does. Gingivitis, the early stage, and periodontitis, the later stage in which the bone that holds the teeth is slowly lost, are typically painless…
- Gum health and periodontal care
What the gum pocket numbers mean at your dental exam
The numbers are probing depths in millimeters: how far a thin, blunt probe slides between the gum and the tooth, usually recorded at six points around each tooth. As…
- Gum health and periodontal care
Gingivitis versus periodontitis: why the difference changes your care
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gum alone. It is caused by plaque, and it usually reverses once a professional cleaning removes the buildup and daily brushing and…
- Gum health and periodontal care
Bleeding gums when you floss: what your dentist needs to check
Bleeding when you floss usually means the gum along the tooth is inflamed by plaque sitting at the gum line, a condition called gingivitis. It does not usually mean…