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 literally rot the gum, teeth and bone.
At Michael A. Wong, DDS in San Mateo, we perform the most thorough dental cleanings possible. Gum disease can be reversed in its early stages.
Our goal is to help our San Mateo 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 smoothes 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.
To schedule a deep cleaning, call 650-295-0016. We are located at 256 N. San Mateo Drive, Suite 8 in San Mateo. In addition to providing comprehensive dental cleanings, we create mega-watt smiles for cosmetic dentistry clients in the Birlingame and Hillsborough area. See http://www.cosmeticdentistsanmateo.com/ for more information about our state-of-the-art dental practice.