What do periodontal pockets look like

Beyond a visual assessment of your gum tissue, your dentist will measure the pocket depth around each tooth with a periodontal probe, allowing him or her to determine the presence of periodontal disease or how far it has progressed. The periodontal probe is a small hand-held instrument that measures the gap where the tooth meets the gum.

During the periodontal examination, the dentist gently inserts the probe between the tooth and gum, and then measures from the top of the gum to the bottom of the sulcus or pocket.

Six measurements, in millimeters, are taken around each tooth: three on the outer lip side and three on the inner tongue side. These measurements are recorded, and can be used to track changes in your periodontal health over time. Measurements of four millimeters or more are an indication that some gum tissue has detached from the tooth or that there is the beginning of bone loss. Severe periodontal disease is defined as having at least two teeth with measurements of six millimeters or more, and at least one tooth that has a five-millimeter reading around the area of an adjacent tooth.

Since every periodontal pocket is different, specific treatment recommendations will depend on the depth and shape of the pocket, and whether the inflammation is restricted to the gum tissue, or if it has spread to the bone that lies beneath. Your dentist may wish to take X-rays to determine if there is bone loss from around the teeth, and to what degree. Getting rid of plaque bacteria and tartar is the first step in keeping gum disease from getting worse.

In the case of inflamed gums with no bone loss, even a pocket depth of 4 mm or 5 mm may be treated with professional cleanings to remove the causes of the inflammation. Both a professional cleaning or scaling and root planning will be necessary as well as the start of a routine home health care program at home.

Do you believe you may have periodontal disease? If so, come into our office to have your gums and teeth checked. Call our Green Valley or St Rose offices at to arrange an appointment for a professional cleaning, exam and evaluation. To request a consultation and learn more about how we can help improve your smile, please request an appointment now.

What Are Periodontal Pockets? Top Articles. How Does a Pocket Form? Diagnosing Periodontal Disease Suppose you're experiencing any warning signs of gum disease, such as bad breath, bleeding, red and swollen gums, or receding gum tissue. How to Eliminate These Pockets Like many oral health issues, the first step in treating gum disease is to see your dental professional and have your teeth professionally cleaned.

Home Care for Prevention Periodontal disease is very preventable. Here's how you can keep your gum pockets shallow and easy to clean: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your teeth twice a day, brushing carefully around your gumline where plaque tends to accumulate.

Replace your toothbrush every three to four months or when you see the bristles start to wear. If your mouth tends to build up tartar quickly, use tartar-control toothpaste. Cleaning between your teeth once a day is as important as brushing to prevent gum disease. You can use floss, a water flosser, or another interdental cleaning tool. Be sure to follow your dental professional's recommendation for professional cleanings and gum examination. They may recommend more frequent cleanings after treating a severe case of periodontal pockets.

Was this article helpful? Like Neutral. You also might like. Coupons Shop Now Our Mission. Have questions about your smile? Ask the Colgate Chatbot! When facing a healthy condition, gingival tissue gets attached to the surface of the teeth and contains a light pink colour. When there is an inflammation in the gums, the colour changes to red.

At such cases, it becomes easy to explore blood coming out at the time of brushing, flossing and the gingival tissue becomes tender and puffy. Due to gum disease contains various progressive stages, numerous gum pocketsymptoms are there. But remember, not all of them happen in people affected by this oral pathology.

Many patients do not pay attention towards early symptoms of gum pockets due to lack of discomfort and pain. Those who are affected with gum disease can notice and feel different types of signs like red and swollen gums, moderate bad breath, gingival inflammation or pain, bleeding at the time of brush or floss, in the initial stage. When symptoms get advanced, there can be pus within the gum pocket, loose or shifting teeth, or yellowish teeth base due to the accumulation of plaque and tartar.

When gum pockets become very deep, beyond 7 mm, the infection begins to attack and harm the periodontal structures which support each teeth. You can also understand in another sense that three main parts are there who work together to keep each tooth firmly in place and they are periodontal ligaments, alveolar bone, and gingiva.

Gum pockets are serious but not the end of the world. In many cases, it can be treated with the help of natural ways, like practicing good oral hygiene, making lifestyle changes and using home remedies.

Such procedures with the help of professional dental care can be helpful in reducing the gum pocket and there are brighter chances to improve oral health. You need to brush your teeth two times a day on a regular basis to preventgum pockets. Try to make the process of brushing in a gentle manner. It is because rough and hard brushing can be responsible for causing the gums to recede further.

Brushing in both the morning and at night is helpful in removing bacteria and food that make their shelter in the pockets. It is recommended to advance for brushing after every meal, if possible. It will be helpful in preventing the area which requires healing from being exposed to more food and bacteria.