Root planing is a procedure that is used by dentists to treat periodontal disease. Left untreated, periodontal disease can cause many problems that can affect the overall health and well-being of an individual During root planing, bacterial plaque and tartar that have built up on the teeth and the gum line are removed. The result is clean and smooth teeth, gums and roots. This will help prevent and heal periodontal disease. While root planing is an important part of your overall dental health, the care that is taken after the root planing is just as important.
The care of the teeth and gums after root planing starts immediately after the procedure has been completed. Food needs to be avoided for at least 2 hours. For at least 2 or 3 days after the procedure, the individual needs to avoid the types of food that can damage the teeth. These are mainly hard foods such as chips, popcorn and any food that can get in between the teeth and gums and is not easily removed.
No matter what a person chooses to eat, they need to make sure they rinse their mouth out often. It is best to rinse the mouth at least 3 times a day with warm salt water. It is also okay to return to your normal routine to care for your teeth. It is a good idea to try not to be too rough on the teeth when doing this.
Anyone that smokes should know that they are not doing a good thing for their teeth. This is even truer after root planing. It is best to quit for at least a few days after the procedure or for people that really want to help themselves, they should quit altogether.
Root planing can cause pain and discomfort. Most people can either deal with the pain or they can resolve the problem with aspirin. If the pain is more than a person can handle or if they notice that their gums are bleeding or inflamed, it is best to seek the advice of a dental professional. Root planing can help people who are dealing with problems with their teeth and gums.