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The other day I was in the dentist’s chair for a routine cleaning. The hygienist was going about her normal procedure, when she stopped and paid extra attention to my gums. I was thinking that’s fine, gums are as important as teeth, but I was surprised when she mentioned that I should have my gums measured.

It never occurred to me that gums should, or could be measured, but given that I trusted her, and my dentist I said ok to the idea, but why? She then explained that by measuring the gum line, dentists are able to determine gum health, which is essential for healthy teeth. The system uses measurements values of: 3 = good, 4 = needing attention, and 5 = needs work for the gum area around each tooth.

Fortunately for me, the measurements were almost all 3’s, with one or two 4’s, which she said I could improve with slightly better brushing techniques. If you have many 4’s and 5’s, then you are a candidate for a deeper cleaning than standard scaling. It’s called root planning.

Root planing is the process of smoothing the root surfaces of your teeth so your gum tissue can more firmly reattach to roots of your teeth. Roots that are are clean and smooth can help prevent tooth loss and sensitivity problems. After the procedure, it’s more difficult for plaque to accumulate along the root surfaces.

Depending on the level of root planning needed, you may require anesthesia, and more than one treatment. Talk with your dentist, or hygienist about your gum health, since your gums are as vital to your bite, and smile, as your teeth.

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