Does teeth cleaning hurt reddit

Professional teeth cleaning may feel sensitive, especially around inflamed gums or hardened deposits, but it should not cause sharp pain.

A hygienist removes plaque and calculus from tooth surfaces and along the gumline using instruments or an ultrasonic scaler, then may polish the teeth. Sensitivity can come from exposed root surfaces, inflamed tissue, cold water, or pressure during deposit removal.

Brush gently with a soft toothbrush and tell the dental team about sensitive teeth, gum bleeding, or a previous painful visit. The clinician can adjust water temperature, instrument pressure, or the cleaning approach and can discuss local anaesthetic when deeper cleaning is needed.

Arrange an assessment if cleaning repeatedly causes sharp pain, if gums bleed easily, or if a tooth remains sensitive after the appointment. Swelling, spontaneous tooth pain, or pain when biting may indicate a problem that cleaning alone will not treat.

Ask whether the sensitivity comes from gum inflammation, calculus, exposed dentine, decay, or a cracked tooth. Ask which areas need routine cleaning and whether gum pockets require a deeper periodontal procedure.