If your hygienist has mentioned "pocket depths" or told you that you need a deep cleaning, you might be wondering what that actually means and why a regular cleaning is not enough anymore. Here is a plain explanation of gum disease, how we measure it, and what a deep cleaning involves.
What gum disease is
Gum disease starts with plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that builds up on your teeth every day. If it is not cleaned off regularly, it hardens into tartar, which brushing alone cannot remove. The bacteria in that buildup irritate your gums, causing inflammation.
The early stage is called gingivitis. Your gums might look red or puffy and bleed when you brush or floss. At this stage, the damage is still reversible with good cleaning and better home care.
If gingivitis is left alone, it can turn into periodontitis. This is when the infection moves below the gumline and starts to break down the bone and tissue holding your teeth in place. Periodontitis does not reverse on its own. It can be managed and slowed, but the damage already done usually stays.
How we measure it
During a checkup, your hygienist uses a small probe to measure the space between your tooth and gum, called a pocket. Healthy pockets are usually 1 to 3 millimetres. Once pockets reach 4 millimetres or more, plaque and bacteria start collecting in spots a toothbrush cannot reach, and a regular cleaning is not enough to clear them out.
We also check for bleeding, gum recession, and bone loss on X-rays. Together, these tell us how far the disease has progressed and what kind of cleaning you actually need.
What a deep cleaning involves
A deep cleaning, also called scaling and root planing, goes below the gumline to remove plaque and tartar from the tooth root itself. Scaling clears off the buildup, and root planing smooths the root surface so bacteria have a harder time reattaching and your gums can heal and reattach more snugly around the tooth.
We usually numb the area first, since cleaning below the gumline can be uncomfortable otherwise. The appointment is often split into two visits, one for each side of the mouth, so you are not numb everywhere at once.
Afterward, your gums might feel tender or slightly swollen for a few days. Rinsing with warm salt water and sticking to softer foods for a day or two usually helps.
What happens after
We will typically ask you to come back in a few weeks to check how your gums are healing and remeasure those pockets. If things have improved, we move you to more frequent cleanings, often every three to four months instead of the usual six, to keep things under control. If pockets are still deep, we might talk about a referral to a periodontist for further treatment.
What you can do at home
Brushing twice a day and flossing once a day still matters the most. An antimicrobial mouthwash can help in the weeks after a deep cleaning. If you smoke, quitting makes a real difference here too, since it slows healing and makes gum disease harder to control.
If your gums bleed regularly, look swollen, or you have noticed a tooth feeling loose, do not wait for your next scheduled cleaning. Call us and we will take a look.
