When you visit the dentist, a routine part of your oral health assessment involves a dental professional calling out a series of numbers while gently examining your gums. These numbers correspond to measurements taken around each tooth. This process, known as periodontal probing, helps dentists understand the condition of the gum tissue that surrounds and supports your teeth. It provides a detailed picture of gum health.
Decoding the Numbers
The numbers your dentist or hygienist calls out represent the depth of the “pocket” or “sulcus” between your tooth and the gum, measured in millimeters. In a healthy mouth, the gum tissue fits snugly around the tooth, forming a shallow space.
Measurements between 1 and 3 millimeters indicate healthy gums, with no signs of infection or bone loss. A measurement of 4 to 5 millimeters suggests early to moderate gum disease (gingivitis or mild periodontitis).
Numbers of 6 millimeters or more point to more advanced gum disease (moderate to severe periodontitis), often linked with bone loss. Bleeding during probing is an additional indicator of inflammation, even with lower numbers, and signals active gum disease.
What Causes Changes in Gum Health
Increased gum measurement numbers result from the accumulation of plaque and tartar. Plaque is a sticky, colorless film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. If not removed through daily oral hygiene, plaque can harden into tartar, which irritates gum tissues.
This bacterial buildup leads to inflammation of the gums, a condition called gingivitis. Gingivitis causes the gums to become red, swollen, and prone to bleeding. If left untreated, the inflammation can progress to periodontitis, where gums pull away from teeth, creating deeper pockets. Within these deeper pockets, bacteria can thrive and destroy the bone and connective tissues that support the teeth, potentially leading to tooth loss.
Maintaining Optimal Gum Health
Preventing and managing high gum measurement numbers involves consistent oral hygiene practices. Brushing your teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste helps remove plaque and food particles from tooth surfaces and along the gumline. Daily flossing is equally important, as it removes plaque and food debris from between teeth and beneath the gumline, areas a toothbrush cannot reach.
Regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings are also essential, as only a dental professional can remove hardened tartar. For deeper pockets, dentists may recommend a procedure called scaling and root planing, also known as a deep cleaning. This procedure involves removing plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline and smoothing tooth roots to help gums reattach. Consistent care is important for long-term oral health.