{"id":111,"date":"2023-09-22T21:37:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T21:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/?p=111"},"modified":"2023-10-22T21:39:26","modified_gmt":"2023-10-22T21:39:26","slug":"what-causes-periodontal-pockets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Rid of Periodontal Pockets"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-112 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gum-disease-55-300x206.jpg\" alt=\"Healthy tooth and tooth affected by gum disease\" width=\"300\" height=\"206\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gum-disease-55-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gum-disease-55.jpg 612w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Your oral health involves much more than just your teeth. Your gums are the foundation for a healthy smile. Cavities aren\u2019t the only threat to your dental health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50% of adults over the age of 30 have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/gum-disease-treatment.html\">gum disease<\/a>. Initially, your gums may be red, swollen, or bleed easily. Over time, the infection can spread deeper into the tissues surrounding your teeth, causing periodontal pockets. Here\u2019s what you need to know to stop the infection and get rid of the pockets.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gum disease is a preventable infection caused by poor oral hygiene habits. Plaque and tartar can accumulate near your gum line, which harbors bacteria that can infect your gums. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. It\u2019s easy to treat and won\u2019t cause irreversible damage with treatment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Periodontal Pockets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With no treatment, inflammation and swelling can cause pockets to form between your gums and teeth. Plaque and tartar can hide in the pockets, wreaking havoc on your dental health. Over time, gum disease can destroy the supporting structures of your teeth, including your jawbone. Eventually, your teeth can lose and fall out. Advanced periodontal disease is also linked to many health issues, including cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Treating Periodontal Pockets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your dentist checks your gum health during your semi-annual appointments. They use a special dental instrument to measure the depths of the periodontal pockets. If the infection isn\u2019t treated quickly, the tissue that attaches the gum to your tooth can break down. Your gum line will recede and your bone won\u2019t have the protection it needs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scaling and Root Planing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your periodontal pockets measure over 3 mm, your dentist will recommend scaling and root planing, also known as a \u201cdeep cleaning.\u201d They\u2019ll use dental instruments to remove plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line. After the periodontal pockets have been cleaned out, your dentist will use another instrument to smooth your root surfaces. This discourages future buildup and allows your gums to reattach to your teeth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preventing Gum Disease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your dentist may recommend more frequent cleanings and checkups to monitor your gum health. They will also encourage a few changes to your oral hygiene routine to keep your teeth and gums healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste to clean your teeth twice daily for 2 minutes. Commit to flossing your teeth every day to remove the buildup your toothbrush can\u2019t reach. Finish your routine with an antimicrobial mouthwash to kill any bacteria hiding in your mouth. You\u2019ll keep your gums healthy and enjoy minty fresh breath.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About Dr. Adam Danzig<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/dr-adam-danzig.html\">Dr. Danzig<\/a> achieved his dental degree at the New York University College of Dentistry and has regularly pursued education in various specialties, including CEREC, orthodontics, and gum disease treatment. He is an active member of many professional organizations, including the American Dental Association. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/request-an-appointment.html\">Request an appointment<\/a> through his website or call (978) 924-8186.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your oral health involves much more than just your teeth. Your gums are the foundation for a healthy smile. Cavities aren\u2019t the only threat to your dental health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50% of adults over the age of 30 have gum disease. Initially, your gums may be red, swollen, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Causes Periodontal Pockets?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Periodontal pockets are a sign of gum disease. Here\u2019s how your dentist can stop the infection and close the pockets.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"What Causes Periodontal Pockets?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Periodontal pockets are a sign of gum disease. Here\u2019s how your dentist can stop the infection and close the pockets.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gum-disease-55.jpg\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"gratefuldentists\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/563cc4144191a922f85f671e271d6af1\"},\"headline\":\"How to Get Rid of Periodontal Pockets\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-22T21:37:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-10-22T21:39:26+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":511,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/10\\\/gum-disease-55-300x206.jpg\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\\\/\",\"name\":\"What Causes Periodontal Pockets?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/10\\\/gum-disease-55-300x206.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-09-22T21:37:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-10-22T21:39:26+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/563cc4144191a922f85f671e271d6af1\"},\"description\":\"Periodontal pockets are a sign of gum disease. Here\u2019s how your dentist can stop the infection and close the pockets.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/10\\\/gum-disease-55.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/10\\\/gum-disease-55.jpg\",\"width\":612,\"height\":420,\"caption\":\"Healthy tooth and tooth affected by gum disease\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How to Get Rid of Periodontal Pockets\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Grateful Dentists Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gratefuldentists.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/563cc4144191a922f85f671e271d6af1\",\"name\":\"gratefuldentists\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What Causes Periodontal Pockets?","description":"Periodontal pockets are a sign of gum disease. Here\u2019s how your dentist can stop the infection and close the pockets.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\/","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"What Causes Periodontal Pockets?","twitter_description":"Periodontal pockets are a sign of gum disease. Here\u2019s how your dentist can stop the infection and close the pockets.","twitter_image":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gum-disease-55.jpg","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\/"},"author":{"name":"gratefuldentists","@id":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/563cc4144191a922f85f671e271d6af1"},"headline":"How to Get Rid of Periodontal Pockets","datePublished":"2023-09-22T21:37:00+00:00","dateModified":"2023-10-22T21:39:26+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\/"},"wordCount":511,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gum-disease-55-300x206.jpg","inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\/","url":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\/","name":"What Causes Periodontal Pockets?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gum-disease-55-300x206.jpg","datePublished":"2023-09-22T21:37:00+00:00","dateModified":"2023-10-22T21:39:26+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/563cc4144191a922f85f671e271d6af1"},"description":"Periodontal pockets are a sign of gum disease. Here\u2019s how your dentist can stop the infection and close the pockets.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gum-disease-55.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/gum-disease-55.jpg","width":612,"height":420,"caption":"Healthy tooth and tooth affected by gum disease"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/what-causes-periodontal-pockets\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to Get Rid of Periodontal Pockets"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/","name":"Grateful Dentists Blog","description":"","inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/563cc4144191a922f85f671e271d6af1","name":"gratefuldentists"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=111"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":113,"href":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111\/revisions\/113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=111"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=111"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gratefuldentists.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=111"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}