Your dental hygienist cleans your teeth every six months or so, you know that a routine professional cleaning involves scaling teeth and the gumline to remove plaque and tartar, and polishing to remove stains and smooth the tooth’s surface. This is done to keep your teeth and gums healthy. If you have symptoms of gum disease, however, you may need another type of cleaning, called scaling and root planing. Gum disease can be painless, so it is important to be aware of any of the following symptoms: Swollen, red, tender or bleeding gums Gums that recede or move away from the tooth Persistent bad breath or bad taste in mouth Loose teeth Visible pus surrounding the teeth and gums