What is Scaling of teeth

 Scaling and cleaning of teeth is an Oral Prophylactic treatment. Scaling is a noninvasive dental procedure. You should get Scaling of teeth done once in 6 months as a part of your Oral hygiene Protocol. Scaling cleans off the superficial dirt and stains on the teeth. Scaling does not improve or change the original shade of your teeth. Scaling removes and cleans off the stains and calculus that is formed on the external surface of your teeth.

 What is Plaque? The food that we eat, is grinded by the teeth in our mouth. After 20 mins of eating the food, a soft biofilm is formed on our Tooth surface. This soft biofilm is called Plaque. Most of this plaque is usually cleaned off by Brushing our teeth. Since our teeth are not flat in shape, and they have curvatures, the toothbrush is unable to reach every nook and corner of your tooth in the mouth. The area where the toothbrush can't reach, layers and layers of the plaque keep accumulating after every meal.

The multiple layers of plaque mixed with the bacteria that are already in the mouth mix with calcium from the saliva and form a stony hard structure called Calculus. The calculus is a hard substance and cannot be cleaned or removed off easily by just toothbrushing. It can only be cleaned and removed by your Dentist during Scaling. Scaling removes off Plaque and Calculus that forms at the gum margin of your teeth.

If you don't get the plaque and calculus removed, the constant deposits of plaque and calculus will further lead to infection of Gums. If the Gums get infected, the gums start to swell and lead to foul odor from your mouth. That's the cause for the bleeding gums while you Brush your teeth. If you notice your Gums are bleeding while brushing and also there is a foul odor to your breath, its an indication that, its high time you should visit your dentist to get your teeth cleaned.

The Swollen gums create additional space for the plaque and calculus to accumulate. The increasing amount of dirt further generates more infection that starts spreading to the bone that surrounds the tooth. The bone around the tooth gradually starts dissolving because of the increasing infection. This further causes the gums to recede downwards. The receding gums and bone levels create more space for the Plaque and calculus to accumulate. The loss of the bone and receding gums, reduce the support they provide to the tooth around which they surround.

 Even if the tooth looks perfectly fine and healthy, the tooth starts to shake and become mobile, because of the loss of bone and gum support. And the tooth might eventually fall off. 
Sometimes people claim that because of scaling their tooth have become loose and the gaps have increased between their teeth. The damage is NOT caused by Scaling, the real cause of damage is the calculus, the plaque, your neglected oral hygiene for over years and your laziness of not visiting your Dentist for Regular Checkup and Scaling every 6 months.

The Black or brown Stains develop on tooth surface because of Smoking, drinking a lot of tea, coffee. Stains may also develop because of certain Vitamin Syrups, Iron syrups and certain medicines prescribed to you for some other reasons. Scaling can clean off these Superficial external Stains on your Teeth and make your teeth look cleaner, brighter, and also improve your smile and ultimately increase your confidence.

After the Scaling is done you might feel the surface of your tooth has become slightly rough. That's because your tongue was used to touching the dirt settled on the back side of your Lower teeth. Scaling removes off this dirt. You might tend to touch the back side of your lower teeth with your tongue often. Your teeth might also become mildly sensitive to air and water for a day or two. These discomforts will subside in a day or two. The Sensitivity is because of the exposed root due to the gingival recession caused by plaque and calculus.
Your Dentist would prescribe a desensitizing toothpaste in case you have a mild sensitivity post scaling.
If the sensitivity is moderate to severe your dentist would prescribe some analgesic medications as well.

Your Dentist would also prescribe a Gum Paint to massage your gums. Take one or two drops of the Gum paint on your fingertip and gently massage the gum margins around your teeth from the front as well as the back side of your upper and lower teeth. Let the solution remain on the gum margins for at least two minutes and then you may gargle off. Apply the Gum paint post your brushing of teeth, twice a day for at least 10 to 15 days. You can use Gum paint on a regular basis as well if you have formed a habit of using it. 
Your Dentist might also prescribe you with Antiplaque mouthwash for a few days. To gargle with Antiplaque mouthwash, just take a half cap of mouthwash in a glass full of water. Gargle with the mouthwash at least twice in a day. Do not eat anything for at least half an hour after using the mouthwash.

If the gap between the two teeth is considerably large after cleaning, your Dentist may prescribe you with a Single tuft brush. Dip the bristle tip of your single tuft brush in water and gently clean the area between your teeth. Do not force the brush into areas between the teeth where it cannot enter.
Your Dentist might also suggest you to improve your ToothBrushing technique.
If the Gum infection is severe Your dentist might suggest a specialist consultation with a Gum specialist( periodontist).and you might need advance gum care.