3 mm - 5 mm with bleeding: It's very likely that gums with these measurements have early gum disease. 5 mm - 7 mm with bleeding: Besides almost certain gum disease, bone loss and tissue damage are also possible. 7 mm+ with bleeding: Pockets deeper than 7 mm means advanced gum disease is certain.
When a tooth has periodontal disease, this tissue becomes detached past 3mm deep. Under 3mm deep a pocket is considered healthy, while 4mm or deeper it is considered unhealthy.
6=First molar. 7=Second molar. 8=Third molar or wisdom tooth. Your dentist may call out these numbers at the start of your visit as he or she inspects your teeth and enlists the dental assistant's help in charting your results.
Gum disease can lead to early tooth loss
We measure the depth of these pockets whenever we check your gums. <3mm is a healthy depth. > 3mm is a sign of gum disease. You are unable to clean inside deeper pockets (>3mm) at home – the toothbrush bristles cannot get down this far.
This is us scoring your gums between 0 and 4. Zero is the best you can get, meaning your gums are perfect! While 4 can indicate gum disease. It's pretty black and white, says Hull dentist, Nick Allday, the principal dentist at Manor Dental Health in Hull.
A 6PPC is a recording of the periodontal pocket depth using a ball ended dental probe. It gives us a visual assessment of the epithelial attachment loss occurring in periodontally compromised patients. Proper charting also allows us to record furcation involvement, mobility of teeth and recession.
Anything between 1 and 3 is a good indicator that your gums are healthy. However, if you bleed during the process, your gums may be in beginning stages of a more severe problem, even if your measurements are between the target of 1 and 3. Higher measurements than 3 could be a sign of a serious concern.
One of the easiest and most effective ways to improve your gum health is to brush your teeth regularly. But it is crucial to make sure you are brushing well. Effective brushing will adequately remove food particles and plaque buildup and help stimulate gum recovery.
If you hear a 7, the gum pocket is 7mm deep. Decades of research shows that, with proper home care (brushing, flossing, water pick, etc) we can clean as deep as 3mm, but no deeper. At the base of the pockets deeper than 3mm, bacteria can live without being disrupted.
Only the first stage of gum disease, known as “gingivitis” can be reversed. After it progresses into the second stage (periodontitis), it's no longer possible to completely eliminate it.
Treatment for Periodontal Pockets
A targeted at-home dental hygiene plan, including brushing and flossing multiple times per day. Scaling and root planing to physically remove the bacteria, plaque and tartar building around your teeth and gums, while also helping the gum tissue reattach to the teeth.
It's never too late to seek treatment for gum disease, and the degree of treatment you require will depend on how advanced it is.
Because damage to your gum tissue is irreversible, if your pocket depths start to increase the damage will be done. The goal is to stop periodontitis as soon as possible.
Periodontitis (per-e-o-don-TIE-tis), also called gum disease, is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue around teeth. Without treatment, periodontitis can destroy the bone that supports your teeth. This can cause teeth to loosen or lead to tooth loss.
Sensodyne Toothpaste
The top toothpaste available on the market that helps reduce sensitivity caused by receding gums is Sensodyne.
One of the most popular and commonly used methods for restoring receding gums is gum grafting. In gum grafting – also known as soft tissue grafts – a small amount of soft tissue from the roof of the mouth is taken and placed over the exposed roots.
The area between the tooth and the gums is called pockets. A healthy pocket is within 2-3mm. More than 3 mm is a sign of periodontal disease and more than 5mm would require deep cleaning/root planning.
Mouthwash can be a helpful tool in the treatment of periodontal disease. Mouthwashes that contain chlorhexidine or hydrogen peroxide can help reduce plaque and tartar buildup. Mouthwashes that contain these ingredients should be used twice a day for best results.
It was concluded that substantial reduction in pocket depth occurs within 3 weeks after a single episode of root planing owing to initial gingival recession and secondary gain in clinical attachment.
The dentist's scoring between 0 to 4 indicates zero being the best you can get meaning your gums are in excellent condition, and four indicate gum disease.
Limit gum to five or six pieces per day.
Though most people can tolerate sugar alcohols in small amounts, too much could lead to bloating and diarrhea, Planells explained.
Healthy pockets measure between 1 and 3 millimeters. With gingivitis, pockets measure 4 millimeters. If you have periodontal disease, your pockets will measure 5 millimeters or higher.