8 Effective Ways to Make Dental Cleanings Less Painful

Tuesday, 14 February 2023

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You're not alone if you despise having your teeth cleaned. I used to despise having my teeth cleaned. They were excruciatingly painful. I used to try to trick my parents into forgetting about scheduled cleanings when I was a kid.

But now that I'm a dentist, I realize that the best way to avoid the pain would have been to have more frequent, not less frequent, teeth cleanings. Counterintuitive? Yes.

However, the more you go, the less there is to clean, making it less invasive.

Waiting too long between visits causes your immune system to react to the buildup on your teeth, making the gums more sensitive to touch.

It's like removing a band-aid from a wound. Because it is used to being covered and protected, the skin beneath is extra sensitive.

Cleanings are more painful when they are postponed because debris has had more time to accumulate above and especially below the gum line, implying that more work is needed and the buildup is more difficult to reach.

If you haven't had your teeth cleaned in a while, here are some ways to make it less painful. Even if you only go once a year, these tips will help make your next dental cleaning less painful.

8 Effective Ways to Make Your Teeth Cleanings Hurt Less

1. Take Advil before and after.

This can alleviate pain during and after cleaning. Consider taking 600 to 800mg one hour before cleaning and again six hours after cleaning. This lessens the inflammatory response.

2. Get numb.

Ask the hygienist to numb you for the cleaning, just like you would for a filling. In my office, we apply topical anesthesia to the area we're cleaning with a Q-tip, which works well for many people.

3. Consider Using a desensitizing toothpaste.

Use a desensitizing toothpaste, such as Sensodyne Pro Enamel. Make this your go-to toothpaste.

4. Prevent gum recession.

Gum recession occurs when the gum moves slightly away from the tooth, exposing the more sensitive lower part of the tooth. This makes your teeth more sensitive to cleanings as well as your favorite foods. In addition, when you have gum inflammation and your gums heal, they recede. The more inflammation and healing cycles you have, the more gum recession you will have.

5. Level up your oral hygiene.

Brush and floss your teeth after each meal. Clean your tongue. It may appear simple, but the better your oral hygiene, the easier it is to clean your teeth. Teeth cleanings will be painful if you are not in the habit of flossing. Flossing removes 40% of the plaque from your teeth, so skipping it will leave a lot more for the hygienist to clean. If you despise flossing, consider using a flossing stick.

6. Don't over-brush.

Most of us brush our teeth too hard, which damages them and makes them sensitive. Brushing incorrectly makes your teeth more porous and, thus, more sensitive. Check that you're brushing properly to ensure that you're not making your teeth more sensitive with each brushing.

7. Use an electric toothbrush.

Because the toothbrush does the work for you, an electric toothbrush can help you brush more gently. If you have a habit of overbrushing, switching to an electric toothbrush may help. Electric toothbrushes are also better at cleaning below the gum line, which means less scraping for the hygienist.

8. Find the right hygienist.

Look for someone who is willing to collaborate with you. Of course, you don't want the hygienist to be too gentle and fail to complete the task. But there is such a thing as going too far and causing unnecessary discomfort.