Did you ever observe bleeding gums while brushing or when you bite into an apple? Have you ever wondered what the reason might be? It is mainly caused due to swelling of gums caused by certain bacteria. But what actually causes this bacteria to grow and lead to gum swelling? What is debridement and gross debridement, the treatment that is used to restore your gum health? Let’s find out below. What Causes Bleeding Gums? Bleeding gums is the most common problem observed from children to adults at one point in their life. It is caused by bacteria like Aggregatibacter sps, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Fusobacterium sps. These bacteria are found around the gum collar, where plaque and tartar deposits are seen. The plaque is formed by a combination of saliva, bacteria, food debris, and proteins, whereas tartar is a calcified form of plaque. Plaque is usually removed by brushing teeth twice daily. But improper brushing habits retain plaque around the gum collar. This leads to more bacterial accumulation and their products, which eventually leads to swelling and bleeding of gums. How To Get Rid Of Bleeding Gums In the patients, especially the elderly and bedridden patients, the oral condition becomes worse due to improper oral hygiene. This can be due to many factors like loss of dexterity in the elderly and children with special needs or improper care by caretakers, as many of them consider oral hygiene is the least of the concerns. In such patients, plaque keeps accumulating around teeth and eventually forms mountains of tartar around the teeth making the gum condition hopeless. In such patients, professional help is mandatory, and the procedure carried out is called gross debridement. It involves scaling and root planing. What Is Gross Debridement? During gross debridement, a dental hygienist removes the plaque and tartar using ultrasonic scaler tips and might use a laser if required. Root planing can be done with instruments called curettes or sometimes a laser. The number of appointments to entirely clear the debris depends upon the amount of the deposits. The more deposits, the more appointments. Local drug administration into gum pockets can be done by your dentist to promote healing and reduce bacteria. On the last appointment, debridement along with tooth polishing will be done. The patient will be given antibiotics and mouthwashes to help maintain oral hygiene. Is A Full Mouth Debridement Painful? It is a bit of a painful procedure compared to regular oral prophylaxis, as the oral hygiene is very poor and the tendency of bleeding gums is very high. In such a case, your dental hygienist administers local anesthesiaeither as a spray or injection and carries out the procedure.  What Are The Benefits Of Gross Debridement? A gross debridement is performed in patients with very poor oral hygiene and who have not visited the dentist in ages. Many studies say that such patients have a high risk of developing respiratory illnesses and heart diseases. The benefits of gross debridement are: ● Reduced gum swelling ● Reduced gum bleeding ● Reduced bad breath ● Restored gum health ● Teeth become firm within the socket ● Bacterial accumulation can be reduced ● Decreased risk of teeth falling out ● Decreased risk of respiratory and heart diseases Is Full Mouth Debridement Necessary? Gross debridement is not indicated for all the patients. For a patient with good oral hygiene, it is recommended to visit a dentist every 6 months. But for the people who neglected oral hygiene for a very long time, it is never too late. A gross debridement helps prevent future dental and systemic health issues. Is A Full Mouth Debridement The Same As A Deep Cleaning? You can think of a full mouth debridement as a super deep cleaning catch-up session to remove as much of the built-up plaque and tartar as possible, giving your teeth a fresh start to get healthy again. What Is The Care To Be Taken After Gross Debridement? All patients who have undergone gross debridement will be given oral hygiene instructions after the procedure. They may not be the same for everyone, but the standard instructions are as follows: ● Brush twice daily with a soft toothbrush ● Massage gums after brushing, this helps improve blood supply to the gums ● Use the prescribed antibacterial mouthwash regularly ● Do not skip the antibiotic course ● Floss or use interdental brushes as recommended by the dentist ● Eat fibrous food as it naturally helps cleanse the teeth ● Do not skip your regular dental appointments ● Avoid sugary foods to keep caries in check ● Avoid smoking and consume alcohol in moderation Practicing good oral hygiene keeps oral health in check and avoids gross debridement in the future. Visit your dentist today to get more information on your gum health.