I am not regular with getting dental cleanings like I should be, but I typically don’t have any issues with my teeth. After three years of not being seen, I finally did go last week. I tried a new dental office and the cleaning felt incredible tough on my teeth. My gums were bleeding a little afterward, and I think there’s a small gap between two of my teeth that wasn’t there before. Normally I seek out gentle dentists, so maybe I am just not used to what a regular teeth cleaning feels like. But is it possible that my teeth could have been chipped away at by a rough dental cleaning?
Thank you,
Catherine, S., Louisburg, NC
Hi Catherine,
It’s unfortunate that you finally decide to go back to the dentist after such a long time away and your experience was like this. But something tells me that this cleaning might have felt more aggressive than normal because, after years of neglect, your teeth probably needed it.
Three years worth of plaque and tartar buildup had to be removed from your teeth, so even with a gentle dentist, this was going to be quite an undertaking. But this isn’t to say that all cleanings need to be rough. If ever you are feeling any pain or discomfort during a cleaning, you should always let the hygienist know. Most times a topical anesthetic can be applied to help with your pain.
So, is it possible that your teeth could have been “chipped away at by a rough dental cleaning”? I supposed anything is possible, but it’s more likely that what you thought was a closed gap, in fact, wasn’t. I suspect you had a lot of plague between your teeth that needed to be “chipped away at”. Once your teeth were cleaned, your space was restored.
Hope this helps!
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