For some, the “weird” feeling may be a sense of cleanliness by not having a film of plaque on their teeth. For others, they may experience temporary tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity most often occurs after a dentist performs a deep cleaning which involves more contact with a patient's gums than regular cleaning.
Teeth cleanings should not damage your teeth when they are performed by a trained, qualified hygienist and dentist. A teeth cleaning will remove harmful materials from your teeth and assess whether any cavities or infections have developed. A teeth cleaning should leave your teeth in good health.
For the first 24 hours, it is good to avoid sharp foods such as nuts or popcorn, which can get caught in the tissue area and hinder healing. For the first 48 hours, it is good to avoid acidic foods such as oranges and salsa. It is also good to avoid hot foods and beverages.
Infection after dental cleaning
The process of dental cleaning can sometimes make your gums bleed slightly. Although it is rare, this can sometimes cause an infection to develop in the days after the procedure.
Flu-like symptoms are not very common following a teeth cleaning, but they can still happen. The most common symptoms that are noticed following a teeth cleaning are: Nausea: This may be a result of having anesthetics. Nausea may also result from feelings of anxiety or nervousness over your dental visit.
On average, it takes about 5 – 7 days for your gums to heal after deep cleaning. During this period, it's possible to experience minor gum soreness, swelling, and tooth sensitivity.
With a regular dental cleaning, you can go ahead and eat after the cleaning, unless you also received a fluoride treatment. If you received a fluoride treatment, you should wait 30 minutes before eating. The fluoride needs time for the treatment to take effect and for the fluoride to be absorbed into the teeth.
If your cleaning included a fluoride treatment or air polishing, you need to wait 30 minutes to eat. If you didn't have a fluoride treatment or air polishing, there's no need to wait. We do recommend avoiding foods that could stain or discolor your teeth for at least 6 hours after a cleaning.
A common belief amongst patients is that having your teeth cleaned every 6 months is adequate in maintaining good oral health. While this is true for a small percentage of the population, majority of the patients need a professional cleaning every 3 to 4 months.
Dental cleanings are necessary as they help to ensure that patients' teeth and gums are healthy. They are a very important part of one's overall oral care routine as these cleanings help to remove any plaque or tartar buildup that can lead to mouth problems, like tooth decay.
If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, and suffer from bone loss, inflammation, and/or tartar has accumulated beneath the gumline, then the hygienist will need to clean 'deeper' below the gumline, and this is often known as a dental deep cleaning.
Immediately after a deep cleaning you might have some discomfort and aching. After your mouth has had some time to heal you should notice some of the following improvements: Decreased bleeding when brushing and flossing. Better smelling breath.
An acute feeling of dizziness following prolonged dental treatment is not uncommon in dental practice. Sudden changes in blood pressure following postural changes after prolonged periods in a supine dental chair may be responsible.
Avoid sharp or crunch foods, like nuts and popcorn, for at least 24 hours post-treatment. Avoid hot foods and beverages, like hot soup or hot coffee, for about 48 hours post-treatment. Avoid highly acidic foods, like oranges and tomatoes, for at least 48 hours post-treatment.
Also, be sure you stay hydrated. You should avoid sugary drinks, as it can be harsh on your newly cleaned teeth. Water is the best choice, as it will not stain your teeth and hydrates you the best out of any liquids you could be drinking.
Avoiding coffee for hours after your dental cleaning is critical because the dark dyes in coffee can stain your teeth. The dark components can make their way through the enamel in your teeth. The compounds can eventually cause the teeth to become dark and unappealing.
Within a week the gums will start to heal and reattach to the roots of the teeth. The initial discomfort should be gone. Full recovery and reattachment can take up to 6 or 8 weeks, but patients are usually back to normal eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing within the first week.
Brushing should always be done BEFORE breakfast
Bacteria begin to metabolize sugars into acids almost instantly. Bacterial biofilms in your mouth have been maturing overnight in a reduced saliva environment gearing up for sugars in the morning.
To relieve pain after a deep cleaning, you can take pain medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil®, MOTRIN®) or acetaminophen (TYLENOL®). Try gargling a warm saltwater solution or rinsing your mouth with an antimicrobial mouthwash a few times a day to keep the gums clean and to reduce swelling/inflammation.
Following a deep cleaning, your teeth may be more sensitive than usual. This can last for up to several weeks. You may also experience some slight swelling or bruising. Icing the area can help with this, but please notify us if you experience any major swelling.
The simple answer is, no. If your gums are damaged by, for example periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, it's not possible for receding gums to grow back.
Sometimes patients may not experience any discomfort during a cleaning, but have soreness for a few days or even a week or two after. Typically, this pain is normal and means that the hygienist did their job well! Gums can become inflamed as a result of the cleaning process, leading to soreness.