Why Dental Cleanings Are Painful To Some People And Ways To Relieve The Pain

If you typically feel a lot of pain and discomfort during dental cleanings, you are not alone. While most people do not feel pain during cleanings, there are a lot of people that do, and there are several reasons for this. There are also steps you can take that might ease the pain you feel when you get your teeth cleaned.

Common Reasons Dental Cleanings Are Painful

There are several common reasons people experience a lot of pain while getting their teeth cleaned, but there are two main ones. The first reason you might experience pain during cleanings is from the oral problems you have in your mouth. Your gums will become more sensitive if you have untreated oral issues. For example, if you have cavities in your mouth, you are likely to have very sensitive gums. If your gums are receding or if you have gum disease, you might also be more likely to have sensitive gums.

Sensitivity with gums can result in painful dental cleanings, and the most painful part of a cleaning is usually when the hygienist is scraping plaque off your gum line. Hygienists do this with a pointed instrument, and it is necessary if you want to keep your teeth and gums healthy. The problem is that it can also be painful to a person with sensitive gums.

A second reason people feel pain during cleanings is from the lack of enamel on their teeth. Enamel is something found on the outside of your teeth, and its main job is to protect your teeth. Over time and with bad habits, enamel wears off leaving the inside exposed. If this has occurred with your teeth, you are likely to feel a lot of pain during dental cleanings, simply because the inner layers of your teeth are extremely sensitive.

Ways To Relieve The Pain You Feel During Cleanings

If you do not want to experience pain during cleanings, you have options. The first, and worst, option is to avoid going in for cleanings. If you skip cleanings because of the pain, it will only cause the problems to worsen. Your teeth need to be professional cleaned and examined twice each year, and skipping these visits is the worst thing you can do.

One of the best things to do is talk to your dentist about this problem. Your dentist will be able to tell you why you feel so much pain with your teeth during cleanings, and he or she will be able to recommend steps to take to fix this problem. If you need any dental work completed, this will be the first step you should take.

You could also start using toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth, and there are several good kinds you can buy. In addition, you might need to start brushing your teeth with a soft-bristled brush. Hard brushes are capable of removing enamel from teeth, which is why you should never use a brush with hard bristles.

Dentists can also give you numbing agents before you have your teeth cleaned, or you could take pain medication before you go to the dental clinic. You should also make it a habit to get your teeth cleaned every six months. As you begin taking better care of your teeth and making changes in your oral health routines, you might start noticing a decrease in the sensitivity you feel with your teeth and gums.

Talking to your dentist about this problem is the best thing for you to do. Your dentist can give you solutions and options to try. To learn more, contact a dental clinic today to discuss your dental cleaning.