Do your gums look pink and healthy? Though brushing and flossing are important, bacteria in the grooves can hide and silently affect your gums. Soon, before you know it, you end up with periodontal disease. However, regualr periodontal maintenance by dental professionals can help you avoid this before you have sore and bleeding gums.
Read this blog to learn how professional dental care can keep your gums intact.
What Is Periodontal Maintenance Anyway?
Think of it as a routine, strategic plan to prevent severe gum inflammation, infection, and tooth loss.
It goes far deeper than a regular dental cleaning. Here’s how:
- Targets below-the-gum-line areas where bacteria love to hide
- Removes hardened tartar (calculus) around roots and pockets
- Monitors gum pocket depth to detect early signs of relapse
- Disrupts bacterial colonies before they spark inflammation
Once gum disease reaches a certain stage, the dentist usually recommends ongoing periodontal maintenance to keep things from escalating again.
How Often Should You Go For Periodontal Maintenance?
The frequency might depend on the severity of your gum disease. However, for most patients who’ve had periodontitis, periodontal maintenance in Glendale is needed every 3 to 4 months. This is because:
- Bacteria repopulate within 90 days
- Gum pockets can deepen silently over a few months
- Early signs of relapse are often invisible to you, but not to your hygienist
Your frequency could change based on:
- How well you clean at home
- Your smoking or diabetes severity
- Whether your gum pockets are stable
- Your genetic risk factors
What Happens If You Don’t Stick to It?
It’s tempting to skip a cleaning when your mouth feels fine. But gum disease isn’t just about how your mouth feels; it’s about what’s quietly happening beneath the surface.
Here’s what skipping periodontal maintenance can lead to:
- Reinfection of gum pockets
- Rapid loss of bone supporting your teeth
- Chronic bad breath that mouthwash can’t fix
- Tooth mobility and, eventually, tooth loss
- Higher risk of systemic inflammation affecting the heart and more
How Is Periodontal Maintenance Done?
A typical visit is different from a regular checkup. You’ll likely experience:
- Deep scaling and root planing to remove tartar and smooth surfaces below the gumline
- Irrigation with antibacterial rinses to flush out harmful microbes
- Charting and probing to track any changes in gum pockets
- Targeted recommendations based on how your mouth is responding
Each visit becomes a checkpoint to prevent small issues from becoming big problems.
Tips to Extend the Time Between Visits (Without Risking Relapse)
Want fewer trips to the dentist without putting your gums in danger? You’re not alone. Here’s how to stretch time between appointments safely:
- Brush your teeth properly twice daily with a soft-bristled brush
- Floss your teeth daily, not just when something’s stuck
- Use an antimicrobial mouth rinse to keep bacteria from rebounding
- Eat anti-inflammatory foods (think leafy greens, berries, omega-3s)
- Quit smoking, as nicotine impairs healing and hides inflammation
- Control blood sugar if you’re diabetic, since it directly impacts gum health
Staying diligent between visits means the dentist can confidently space out your periodontal maintenance sessions without putting your progress at risk.
Can You Stop Getting Periodontal Maintenance?
Periodontal maintenance as a partnership. If your gums stabilize, inflammation vanishes, and pocket depths stay shallow, the dentist might re-evaluate your schedule. You may be able to return to regular cleanings.
Still, many patients stay in maintenance long-term because gum disease doesn’t “go away.” It goes into remission and needs upkeep.
Gum disease is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss, and it’s often preventable with the right plan. That’s why dentists don’t take this treatment lightly. The firewall protects everything from your smile to your systemic health.
Are you ready to take better care of your diseased gums? Schedule a consultation today to start this treatment.