Better brush them teeth, kids, because gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is not your friend. Four times a year I have to go to my dentist for my regular periodontal exam and teeth cleaning. My dental hygienist starts by jabbing one of these or some other monstrous tool into my gums to determine the depth of my gum pockets and then goes to work cleaning away plaque to keep the gum disease in check. At the end of the exam and cleaning, I am told how the gums held up, if they bled a little, a lot, or, as if it would ever happen, not at all. While I hope for not at all, I am not so fortunate, but at least another cleaning has passed and the gum disease hasn’t progressed so far as to warrant another ROOT PLANING! Root planing is another one of those things that you wouldn’t recommend to a friend. Root planing is revenge for not flossing, using a water pick, or an electric toothbrush. The hygienist starts the procedure by pulling your gums down far enough to do deep cleaning, yes this is as bad as it sounds – you do not want to know more. Just brush them teeth, floss, and be happy.