Sensitive teeth after cleaning

During a professional teeth cleaning, your dentist will use pressure, along with a range of tools to scrape and remove the plaque and tartar from between your teeth and along the gumline. This process is much more in depth than regular brushing and flossing and your teeth won’t be used to it. Because of this, you may feel some tooth sensitivity after hygienist appointments for a day or two, especially if you already suffer from sensitive teeth.

Not every dental visit will involve a deep cleaning, but you may feel your teeth sensitive after cleaning if you do receive this procedure. You should get your teeth professionally cleaned around every 6 months, but you may also need a deep cleaning if you’re showing signs of gum disease or gingivitis. When your oral care provider performs this procedure, which is also known as scaling and root planing, they’ll remove tartar and rough bacteria that have calcified on your teeth in these pockets. According to Bupa, scaling is when your oral care provider removes the plaque and tartar from hard-to-reach areas using special tools. Planing is when they smooth out your teeth’s roots to help your gums reattach to your teeth.

Before a deep-cleaning session, your gums may be inflamed and swollen or have deep pockets infected with bacteria. Both scaling and root planing help treat these problems, but these treatments can hurt your teeth and cause discomfort or bleeding. The dentist may offer a local anaesthetic if your deep cleaning is likely to cause you more severe pain.

It’s normal to feel tooth sensitivity after hygienist appointments; in fact half of patients can expect some degree of sensitivity. Soreness and pain may also linger for a few days as your gums may be swollen or bleed. Your oral care provider may prescribe an antibiotic or mouth rinse to manage any pain and fight any possible infections.