Even with daily flossing, brushing, mouthwashing, and regular dental visits, plaque and tartar can still build up on your teeth. While professional teeth cleaning is essential for removing these deposits, it doesn’t replace the need for good oral hygiene practices.
The main benefits of a professional dental cleaning include cleaner teeth, healthier gums, and improved oral health. However, as with any medical or dental procedure, you may wonder what are the side effects of teeth cleaning.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common side effects that you can experience after a teeth cleaning and how you can manage them.
What is Teeth Cleaning?
Teeth cleanings are effective in removing plaque and tartar buildup from your teeth, which helps reduce gum inflammation and improve gum health.
Plaque is a bacterial film, sometimes known as biofilm, that forms in your mouth and can be found between teeth, on the front and back surfaces, on the chewing surfaces, and even along and beneath the gum line. Accumulating plaque and tartar can lead to gum disease, starting with gingivitis, which causes gum inflammation and leads to gum disease.
Tartar develops from the combination of chemicals in saliva and accumulated plaque. This crusty deposit can trap stains and discolor your teeth. As tartar builds up, it becomes increasingly difficult to remove new plaque and bacteria. While daily brushing can remove plaque from the surface of your teeth, it doesn’t reach the areas between your teeth where plaque hardens into tartar.
Teeth cleanings address plaque and tartar not just from the visible surfaces of your teeth but also from areas below the gum line or surfaces that might be exposed due to gum recession caused by gum disease.
Benefits of Teeth Cleaning
- Removal of stubborn plaque and tartar
- Prevention of gum disease
- Improved oral health
- Whiter teeth
- Reduced risk of bad breath
- Early detection of dental issues
- Better overall health
What are the Side Effects of Teeth Cleaning?
Sensitive Teeth
Allowing teeth to remain unclean for extended periods can result in the accumulation of tartar.
After tartar is removed, the teeth might be exposed to polluted air, breezes, fizzy drinks, and contaminated foods, which can cause temporary sensitivity in the teeth and gums.
This sensitivity is usually a short-term effect that should subside after a while.
Bleeding Gums
Bleeding is a frequent side effect of certain dental treatments, and teeth cleaning can also result in temporary gum bleeding.
Removing the plaque and tartar can make your teeth more sensitive, leading to bleeding.
If teeth cleaning has significantly affected your gums and you can’t stop the bleeding with a cold compress or gauze pads, seek immediate attention from your dentist.
Sore Gums
Removing tartar and plaque from your teeth can lead to gum soreness.
Teeth cleaning is a thorough procedure that involves cleaning both the teeth and the upper and lower surfaces of the gums. This intensive cleaning can cause gum sensitivity, making them more sensitive to food.
It’s important to be aware of this potential side effect when undergoing professional dental cleaning every few months.
Pain & Stiffness
You may be curious about why dental cleaning can be so painful. Dental cleaning involves various techniques, including specialized tools and lasers, and it isn’t always a comfortable experience for everyone.
Occasionally, even a routine teeth cleaning can lead to sore and stiff gums. In such cases, inform your dentist about these side effects.
Noticeable Gaps Between Teeth
There are spaces between each of your teeth, varying from very small to wide. Over time, food deposits and the buildup of plaque and tartar can fill these gaps, making them less noticeable.
When food particles, plaque, and tartar are removed, these original gaps become visible again. While cleaning won’t create new gaps, it may reveal ones that you were previously unaware of, had forgotten about, or had become accustomed to not noticing.
How to Deal with the Side Effects of Teeth Cleaning
- Your dentist or hygienist might suggest using an anti-sensitivity or desensitizing toothpaste, which is widely available over the counter.
- They may also recommend an antimicrobial mouthwash to help reduce bacteria that cause gum disease.
- You can rinse with warm salt water 2-3 times a day for a few days to protect against bacterial infection and reduce swelling.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers may help with any pain or soreness you experience.
- Following the specific instructions given by your dentist or dental hygienist is crucial.
- Maintaining proper home care with effective brushing and flossing techniques should also be beneficial.
When to Seek Professional Help
- If the pain is intense or lasts longer than a few days, it could indicate an underlying issue that needs attention.
- If you experience significant bleeding that doesn’t stop with standard measures like cold compresses or gauze pads, you should consult your dentist.
- If you notice symptoms such as swelling, redness, or discharge, these could be signs of an infection that requires professional evaluation.
- If the sensitivity is unusually severe or continues for an extended period, you should check in with your dentist.
- If you suspect damage to your gums or teeth following the cleaning, you should seek professional help to address any potential problems.
- If discomfort interferes with your daily activities or oral hygiene routines, it’s worth getting a professional opinion.
Conclusion
Daily brushing and flossing are crucial for maintaining good oral health independently of professional care.
However, regular dental cleanings are invaluable as they help prevent oral infections early on. Despite knowing what are the side effects of teeth cleaning, it’s important to recognize the benefits of scaling and other professional teeth cleaning methods.
Consult with the experts at Joseph Stan DDS and learn how you can make teeth cleaning a comfortable experience for yourself.
FAQs
Are teeth cleanings beneficial?
Yes, teeth cleanings are a healthy practice for maintaining clean teeth and gums over the long term.
Is professional teeth cleaning risky?
No, teeth cleaning is a routine procedure that uses standard dental tools to remove plaque and tartar. The procedure may have some side effects, but they are easily manageable.
