Around every tooth there is a ”pocket” between your gums and tooth. At your first visit in a dental office and once a year there is a measurement taken of that pocket to determine your gum health. A “healthy” or “normal” measurement is anywhere from 1 to 3 millimeters in depth. These pocket depths are still shallow enough for saliva and water to disrupt the bacteria from growing. Studies have shown that anything deeper than that you are unable to keep clean yourself by brushing and flossing. Bacteria will sit in these deep pockets causing tartar to form and act like a barnacle, attaching itself to your tooth.
If left untreated for a certain
amount of time you can start to lose bone and develop periodontal disease. When
this happens, you will need what is called a “deeper cleaning” to properly
remove bacteria and allow the gums to heal and go back to healthy pocket
depths. You will also need to be put on a “maintenance” program where you come
in every 3-4 months for a cleaning instead of 6 to keep on top of bacteria and
to keep the gums health so they can heal properly.
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