Scalling, Is that important ?        

What is tooth scaling?
Scaling is a procedure to clean or remove tartar (mineralized dental plaque) that sticks to the tooth surface. Tartar and dental plaque contain lots of bacteria that can cause infections in the surrounding tissue. You can do regular scaling to protect healthy teeth and tooth-supporting tissues (gums and bones) from periodontal disease. Chronic periodontal disease is a disease caused by an infection by bacteria that causes inflammation of the periodontal tissue supporting the teeth. With unhealthy tooth support tissue, teeth are easy to shake or fall out.
The scaling procedure is often accompanied by a root planing or deep cleaning procedure. Scaling aims to remove tartar from the visible surface of the teeth, while root planning removes tartar at the roots of the teeth, which are located below the gums.

What is the purpose of scaling?

The scaling process has several objectives, namely:

1. Remove tartar.

2. Remove plaque in areas that toothbrushes cannot reach.

3. Prevent dental disease.

4. Preventing periodontal disease by preventing or eliminating the formation of gum pockets (gum pockets are formed when plaque and coral buildup continuously, causing the gums to lose good attachment to the teeth). The deeper the pocket, the more severe the gum disease.

What are the benefits of scaling?

Overall, the benefits of scaling include cleaning teeth and preventing various dental diseases. The benefits of scaling are more pronounced for people with chronic periodontal disease. Even scaling is a mandatory treatment for patients with a history of the disease.

Scaling can repair damaged attachments between teeth and gums and eliminate pockets that form between teeth and gums, thereby reducing the risk of gum disease and tooth and bone loss. Regular scaling is especially important for people who have disease or are at high risk of developing periodontal disease. If you have severe tooth decay, smoke, or have diabetes, scaling can reduce the risk of developing dental problems.

When to scale?

Dentists often recommend scaling and root planing if you have signs of chronic periodontal disease. Signs of chronic periodontal disease include bad breath, loose teeth, swollen, red, painful gums, and bleeding easily.

Chronic periodontal disease occurs when bacteria in plaque cause inflammation of the gums around the teeth, damaging the gum attachment. When left continuously, it can cause pockets to form between the teeth and gums. Inflammation that affects the gums can get worse and damage the bones around the teeth, so that the previously formed pockets become bigger and deeper. As a result, more bacteria multiply there, which cannot be eliminated simply by brushing your teeth.

If left untreated, chronic periodontal disease can cause:

1. Loss of dental bone tissue
2. Loss of teeth due to loose teeth

Some things that can increase the risk of chronic periodontal disease are :

1. Poor oral hygiene
2. Smoke.
3. Aging.
4.  Hormonal changes.
5. Malnutrition
6. other medical conditions.

Tartar that is not cleaned can cause various problems. How often scaling is done depends on the oral hygiene conditions of each person. This dental treatment should be done every six months. However, for people with a higher tendency to accumulate plaque and tartar, it's a good idea to clean tartar every two to four months. So check the condition of your teeth and consult your dentist about it.