At Margolian Dentistry, we strongly recommend that our patients have regular dental cleanings. A dental hygiene appointment in Oshawa is necessary to ensure your teeth and gums remain healthy and can help avoid problems like tooth decay and gum disease. However, some people may find their mouth slightly more sensitive after their teeth are cleaned professionally, which can be due to several factors.
Dental scaling is an important part of a hygiene appointment, removing plaque and tartar buildup from your teeth and from just below the gum line. It involves using ultrasonic tools to loosen tartar buildup before your teeth are scaled with a specialized dental tool to remove tartar. Afterwards, it’s not unusual to feel some temporary sensitivity, especially around your gumline and when you eat or drink anything hot or cold.
Another reason for tooth sensitivity is enamel wear and tear or enamel erosion in Whitby. Enamel erosion can occur due to exposure to acids created by plaque bacteria or found naturally in foods or if you brush your teeth a bit too hard. In this case, you may frequently experience tooth sensitivity, not just after having your teeth cleaned professionally.
If you have any lesions or untreated cavities, this can increase tooth sensitivity in one or more specific teeth. Regularly visiting our dental office allows us to detect the first signs of cavities, and sometimes it’s possible to re-harden tooth enamel when there is only a very small lesion in a tooth. This can be done with a professional fluoride treatment where fluoride is applied topically to your teeth as varnish, foam, gel, or professional strength mouthwash. Otherwise, we can suggest a suitable filling material to restore the tooth, getting rid of the sensitivity.
How to Reduce Tooth Sensitivity
There are several ways to reduce tooth sensitivity; the first is to adjust your dietary habits. If your teeth feel more sensitive after a dental cleaning, try avoiding acidic foods and drinks or anything very sweet for a few days, as this can damage your tooth enamel, making it feel more sensitive. If your teeth are generally sensitive, consider using a toothpaste designed to reduce tooth sensitivity. These products are designed to manage tooth sensitivity, but the effects are cumulative, so be sure to continue using the toothpaste regularly to get the full impact. It can take several weeks for the effects to build up.
Ensure you use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your teeth and brush your teeth at least twice a day, and floss daily. Some people think that using a hard-bristled toothbrush is the best way to clean their teeth thoroughly, but the reverse can be true as using a hard-bristled toothbrush, especially if you apply a lot of pressure, can brush away your gum tissue and erode your tooth enamel, increasing tooth sensitivity in Ajax.
Talk to Us about Tooth Sensitivity
If your teeth twinge uncomfortably, either during a dental cleaning or at other times, talk to us about this problem. We can assess your teeth and gums and provide professional advice on how to remedy this issue. For example, we can check for any signs of cavities or disease and discuss how to make your daily diet more tooth-friendly. Sometimes making small changes to your diet, like changing your snacking habits, can make all the difference to your dental health. Whatever you do, please don’t delay a dental hygiene appointment because your teeth feel uncomfortable, as we can ensure your treatment is pain-free. Hygiene appointments are so important for your dental health.
