The Importance Of Preventive Dental Care At Any Age

Posted on: 5 May 2015

Getting regular dental cleanings is one of the best ways to care for your teeth and prevent major problems from occurring, but you might not like getting your teeth cleaned because of the soreness you experience afterwards. Pain after a dental cleaning is quite common; however, there are ways you might be able to reduce the pain you experience and treat the pain you end up with after your teeth are professionally cleaned.

The Causes of Soreness After Dental Cleanings

To prevent soreness with your teeth and gums are sore after a dental cleaning, you will need to understand what causes it. By learning the causes, you might be able to take the right steps to prevent this pain after you get your cleanings. There are three main things that can cause soreness after cleanings, and these are:  

• Sensitive teeth and gums – Do you have certain areas of your gums that are really sensitive to your touch, or to hot and cold? If so, you are probably suffering from sensitivity. This is something that will make a dental cleaning extremely painful during it and afterwards.
• Inflamed gums – If you have gums that are red and sore, they are probably inflamed. When a hygienist cleans your teeth, he or she will irritate these gums more, which can make the inflammation worse.
• Tartar on your teeth – One of the most common reasons people experience pain after a cleaning is due to the amount of tartar on their teeth. Tartar is a hard material that will eventually cause decay on teeth, and it can also lead to gum disease. One step in the teeth cleaning process is removing this build-up of tartar, and this is done with a tool called a scaler.

These are the three most common reasons people experience pain from this service, but there might be ways you can avoid the discomfort in the future.

Ways You Can Prevent Soreness and Pain

There are three things you can do that may help your next dental cleaning be less painful during and afterwards, and these are:

• Take better care of your teeth – If your teeth are healthier, you are likely to have less plaque on them. When the hygienist begins cleaning the plaque off, he or she will be able to do this faster and with less pressure. This will make a huge difference with how you feel after the appointment. To do this, avoid sugary drinks and foods, brush your teeth daily, and always make sure you floss your teeth.
• Start using toothpaste for sensitive teeth – Toothpaste is available for sensitivity, and this type of toothpaste helps close the tubules in your teeth. Exposed tubules are caused by a lack of enamel on the teeth, and they will lead to extreme sensitivity. By using the right toothpaste every day, you will see a decrease in the amount of sensitivity you experience, and this will make dental cleanings more comfortable.
• Get all of your dental problems fixed – Finally, you should take every step you can to make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy. If you need a dental procedure for any reason, get it completed.

Because a dental cleaning triggers the nerves in your mouth, you might be able to find some relief for your pain by using clove essential oil. To do this, simply rub some clove oil on your gums. This may numb them and may help decrease the pain you have. You can also take over-the-counter pain medication to treat the pain you feel.

If you get dental cleanings every six months and take good care of your teeth, you may not experience any pain at all during or after your cleanings. To learn more about caring for your teeth, schedule an appointment with a dentist today.