Dr. Supriya Shetty Shetty

Does scaling help us?
Let us first understand what is scaling of teeth:
Teeth scaling is a routine dental procedure with which plaque and tartar deposits that form on teeth are cleaned or scraped away. While plaque is a soft, sticky film that develops on teeth containing millions of bacteria which cause tooth decay and gum diseases, tartar is a hardened form of plaque that develops if the plaque is not removed on time.
If you have healthy gums, tissue will fit tightly around the tooth and keep plaque out. But, if gum disease begins to form, this tissue will loosen. Healthy gums attach to the tooth 1-3 millimeters below the gumline. With gum disease, you’ll begin to develop deeper pockets. These can fill with plaque, worsening your problems and causing symptoms like bad breath or bleeding gums.
If you have pockets of 4 millimeters or more, your dentist will probably recommend dental scaling to remove the plaque beneath the gumline and help treat the gum disease.

Common myths & facts about scaling:
Myth: scaling weakens the teeth and makes them loosen!
Fact: the deposits over period of long time make a hard semi calcified layer between the gums and teeth. Henceforth the gums are detached and recessed from the teeth so when the calculus/tartar/deposits are removed from the gum-line it gives you the feeling of loose teeth, but that is a" bad support" of the teeth that is being removed. In few weeks, the gums get attached back to the teeth and the mouth is healthy, free of deposits and tartar. Hence scaling of teeth just removes the" bad support" which ultimately would have left you with no teeth!

Teeth stains are a major inconvenience as a well as harmful for your teeth. Teeth stains can occur due to consuming certain foods and drinks. It can also be caused due to unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not brushing teeth or flossing.

Dental health might come across as a rather innocuous problem, but there is no reason for us to take it lightly. Dental health often functions as the index to an overall good health and it is extremely crucial for one and all to maintain the utmost hygiene level. Your teeth are arguably one of the most susceptible parts of your body wherein the slightest neglect can result in substantial damage. Dental ailment pans across a variety of diseases which unless immediately arrested, can potentially inflict a lot of harm.  

We all know about that dreaded toothache and it is not an experience that one would like reliving. Although dentists with their whole host of extractions, fillings and excisions often help in soothing those toothaches, for a more natural mode of healing and remedying dental disorders, one may turn to Ayurveda.  Ayurveda regards healthy lifestyle practices like balanced and wise dietary choices and diligent brushing as the most fundamental requisite for maintaining your oral health.  

Some of the advisable methods for upholding oral hygiene can be enlisted as follows:

1. Dant Dhavani or Brushing: As an alternative to the new age bristle brushes, Ayurveda recommends the herbal chewing sticks for the purpose of brushing.  As per Ayurveda, the effect is better in those sticks which have a bitter or an astringent taste. For this purpose, Neem, Licorice, Cutch, Arjuna, Milkweed or Fever Nut are best suited. 
2. Gargling with rock salt and mustard oil: For the upkeep of oral hygiene, it is a healthy practice to massage the gums with mustard oil and rock salt. One can gargle it off with warm water after leaving it for a span of five minutes. Persistent following of this method can bring considerable improvement to your oral hygiene. It is also a good way to mitigate the impacts of asthma and migraine.
3. Jivha Lekhana or Tongue Scraping: Pure metal is endowed with a lot of health boosting properties. Thus, instead of stainless steel tongue cleaners, Ayurveda advocates the use of scrapers made of gold, silver or copper. This helps in battling bad odor and enhances your sense of taste. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an Ayurveda.