When you’re diagnosed with gum disease (periodontal disease), one of the first things your dental team may recommend is a deep cleaning, also called scaling and root planing. This is the correct and essential first step — and we 100% support it at Atlantis Dental.

But here’s what many patients don’t realize: A deep cleaning is just the beginning of your healing journey. If your gums are still bleeding, if your breath still smells off, or if your pockets haven’t improved — there’s a reason. And it’s time to look deeper.

A deep cleaning removes hardened plaque (calculus) and bacteria under the gums, where regular brushing and cleanings can’t reach. If left untreated, this buildup leads to gum inflammation, bone loss, and tooth mobility.

So yes — deep cleaning is necessary. But is it enough? Not always.

We’ve seen patients who say, “I got a deep cleaning, but my gums are still bleeding.” Often, the issue is at home.

After deep cleaning, your dental hygienist should give you a personalized routine — not just generic advice. That might include:
- Daily flossing
- Water flosser (Waterpik) usage
- Antimicrobial rinses or prescription toothpaste
- Switching to a soft electric toothbrush

And yes — these habits must become part of your daily routine to truly support gum healing.

After deep cleaning, most patients require 3-month periodontal maintenance visits, not the usual 6-month checkups.

Why? Because bacteria that cause gum disease repopulate quickly — and waiting too long between visits allows the disease to restart.

Some patients do everything right:

• Great home care
• Show up every 3 months
• Never miss a visit
  



...but still have bleeding, inflammation, and deep gum pockets.

At Atlantis Dental, that’s when we start looking beyond the gums:

Vitamin D Deficiency

We’ve seen it again and again: 100% of the patients with non-healing gum disease in our office had low Vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D is essential for:
- Immune regulation
- Reducing inflammation
- Supporting proper healing and bone health

Once they start supplements (under guidance from their physician), things often turn around quickly.

Vitamin C Matters Too

Vitamin C supports collagen formation, tissue healing, and immune response. A deficiency can directly affect your gums’ ability to regenerate and repair.

Gum disease isn’t just about your mouth. Chronic inflammation in your gums contributes to inflammation throughout your body — increasing your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions.

That’s why reversing it is so important — not just for your smile, but for your life.

At Atlantis Dental, we don’t stop at just performing a deep cleaning. We:


- Diagnose thoroughly
- Follow up with personalized care
- Teach effective home routines
- Guide you to address possible systemic causes
- Collaborate with your physician if needed

And most of all — we don’t stop digging until we find the root cause.

Because for us, healing your smile is only the beginning.