Periodontal Treatment

Regular cleaning treats healthy gums with pockets under 3mm. Deep cleaning treats diseased gums with pockets 4mm or deeper. Your dentist measures pocket depth to determine which you need.

No. Once tartar forms below the gumline, brushing and flossing can't remove it. Only professional instruments reach deep into pockets. That's why you need treatment.

If disease affects multiple areas, yes. Leaving infected areas untreated means the bacteria spread to cleaned areas. Most people need full-mouth treatment.

Soft foods for 2-3 days. Avoid crunchy, spicy, or very hot foods that might irritate healing gums. Stick to soups, yogurt, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs.

Gentle brushing starting the day after treatment. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and avoid aggressive scrubbing near treated areas for a week.

With proper care, inflammation reduces within weeks, and gum tissue improves. However, bone that's already lost won't regenerate. The goal is stopping further damage and stabilizing what remains.

Every 3-4 months, not the standard 6 months. This prevents bacteria from re-colonizing deep pockets. Missing these appointments often leads to disease returning.