Dental Scaling and Root Planing for Healthy Gums

If you have been putting off a visit to the dentist because you just haven’t had time to get your teeth cleaned, you could be asking for problems. Neglecting twice-yearly dental appointments could be much more serious than a couple of fillings could.

Your teeth and gums are the gateway to the rest of your body. Recent studies have indicated that gum disease could increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s disease.

Web MD explains that the best way to keep your mouth healthy is to brush twice and floss once each day. If you are unsure about your brushing and flossing techniques, call and schedule an appointment with your dentist who can show you the right way to clean your teeth. Other habits to include in your oral hygiene protocol include eating a healthy diet, plenty of fluoride and regular checkups with your dentist.

If your gums are swollen, red, bleeding after you eat, brush, or floss, you may be suffering from gingivitis or periodontal disease. The more advanced periodontal disease can cause serious problems, and if left untreated, could cause tooth and even bone loss.

Periodontal disease can be treated if caught early enough, and if your dentist has diagnosed you with gum disease, he or she may recommend dental scaling and root planing to help your gums heal.

Dental scaling and root planing is the conventional treatment for periodontal disease. This non-surgical periodontal procedure also referred to as a deep cleaning removes and eliminates the tartar and dental plaque that causes gingivitis and periodontal disease.

If your dentist has recommended dental scaling and root planing, you have a very good chance of nipping your gum disease in the bud as dental scaling and root planing help your gums heal.

For more information regarding gum disease or dental scaling and root planing, call and schedule an appointment with your dentist today. You may think your gums are healthy, but only your dentist knows for sure. Call and schedule a dental checkup with your dentist today.

Little Known Tongue Facts

According to your dentist, your tongue, if it is average, is about four inches long. Your tongue is divided up into two parts, the posterior, and the anterior. The posterior is located near the back of your throat measuring a third while the anterior is the visible part of your tongue and is two thirds of the total length.

Your tongue helps clean your mouth and assists with digestion by transferring the food when you chew before swallowing. Your tongue is attached to the bottom of your mouth and is called the frenulum. The tip of your tongue, or the apex, is not directly attached to the floor of your mouth so that your tongue can reach the upper part of your mouth for talking and cleaning.

3,000 to 10,000 individual taste buds playing an essential role in how you taste food and drink help your sense of taste along. Your taste buds are full of taste receptors that actually tell you the different flavors in the food that you eat.

According to your dentist, there are five different taste categories. Savory, salty, bitter, sour, and sweet. Saliva is used to wet your food before the receptors recognize the flavor.

If you do not brush your tongue regularly, you will have bad breath, as that taste will not always go away, especially when you are sleeping. The American Dental Association explains that over 60 million people in the U.S. suffer from halitosis, or chronic bad breath. Bad breath can develop from food and bacteria that collects on your tongue. To avoid the accumulation, your dentist recommends that you brush your tongue with a tongue cleaner or a soft bristled toothbrush.

Tongues have eight muscles with four that are not attached to any of your bones. This allows your tongue to change shape. The muscles that are attached to your bones allow your tongue to change its position. When your tongue muscles work together they allow it to facilitate speech and move in different directions.

Your tongue is extremely agile giving you the flexibility to speak, and when it works in conjunction with your teeth and lips, can produce over 90 words in 60 seconds.

Brushing your tongue and teeth, flossing, a good healthy diet and regular checkups with your dentist can help prevent chronic bad breath. Call and schedule an appointment with your dentist today.