Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Scale and Polish !!! Pain

40 replies

Tenerifesun14 · 14/10/2024 15:46

Omg just had a scale and polish done at the dentist. And wow!! Gums are throbbing!!! So much blood too. Is that the norm??
Must admit, my teeth do look really clean and white.. but myyyy god!! Throb throb throb!!!

OP posts:
tribpot · 14/10/2024 15:50

I refuse to have it done as it hurts too much. I have sensitive teeth in fairly poor condition, so maybe this is why? But hell no to a scale and polish.

shiningstar2 · 14/10/2024 15:52

Wow!! That doesn't happen to me. Mind you I'm a total wimp and raise my hand to stop at the slightest hint of pain. So I'm sure my teeth haven't been as thoroughly done as yours. Also as part of my dental package I get a clean every 6 months. Not sure id this is the same as the scale and polish you had done? I did have a kind of deep clean treatment with this dentist when I started with this firm a few years ago. Maybe that's what you had? Mine wasn't painful but I was given pain killing injections at the time though. Don't know if it would have been as painful as yours without or whether it was because, as I mentioned, I'm a total wimp. 😀 Hope you are ok op. Was it NHS or private dentist?

Krumblina · 14/10/2024 16:06

If it's very sore then you really needed it!
If your gums are very healthy it doesn't really hurt or bleed. So keep at it regularly along with flossing and it'll get better.

CrystalSingerFan · 14/10/2024 16:49

I can't comment on the state of your teeth/dental hygiene but I have sensitive teeth that weren't brilliantly cared for and I'm a snivelling coward. My advice:

  • if the dentist says go every 4 months instead of 6, do that.
  • if your hygienist used a sonic device, ask them to try JUST using a pointy scrapy thing. Mine does. It helps.
  • Tell them you're nervous.
  • Raise your hand every time you need a break. Have a sip of water.
  • Use Teepee brushes and floss. (i use those little plastic-handled things. Anything to encourage me to make an effort. Apologies to the environment.)

Good luck. 😬

Sdpbody · 14/10/2024 17:02

I have a scale and polish every 4 months as I'm a little obsessed with dental hygiene.

Mine NEVER hurts and my gums don't bleed at all.

If yours is hurting and bleeding, then you really need to be doing more in between appointment. Brushing twice a day, flossing at the same time, mouth wash etc. I would also be going as often as I could afford to have them cleaned.

Comedycook · 14/10/2024 17:04

I hadn't seen a dentist for years and recently went to one...I also had a 45 minute appointment with a hygienist.... absolutely no pain at all. I was incredibly relieved!

Flucanfeckoff · 14/10/2024 17:07

I try to go every six months and pay private for this service despite being NHS for seeing dentist when I have check up. It really is sore near my problem area behind the front bottom teeth. Talking about shuddering and sweating. She knows I put my hand up for that bit. It's awful. I've put it off this time as I'm dreading it that much. Was meant to go in August so this has made me book again and stop being silly! I always bleed as well.

StMarieforme · 14/10/2024 17:07

It hurts me so much. I loathe it and would happily never ever have it again. The injections hurt a lot too. Hate it all.

BobbyBiscuits · 14/10/2024 17:24

To be honest if there's debris and stuff in there then it will bleed. When I had an MH crisis I neglected my teeth really badly, but once I started cleaning properly again there was initially a lot of blood. Once the gums and teeth are clean and used to the friction of regular cleaning/flossing it should stop. I'm not saying you have poor hygiene btw, I'm just talking from my own experience.
But just keep cleaning really thoroughly. Don't let the blood put you off being pretty vigarous.

KatyJs · 14/10/2024 17:40

I have sensitive teeth and now whenever I have them cleaned he always does a general anaesthetic. Could you ask next time?

KatyJs · 14/10/2024 17:41

I think I actually mean local!!! He doesn't knock me out!!! 😂

Original poster
Tenerifesun14 · 14/10/2024 21:56

tribpot · 14/10/2024 15:50

I refuse to have it done as it hurts too much. I have sensitive teeth in fairly poor condition, so maybe this is why? But hell no to a scale and polish.

Ha my mum refuses to have it done too, last time she did it took weeks to ease off!!! Maybe it's in the genes 🤔

OP posts:
Original poster
Tenerifesun14 · 14/10/2024 21:59

shiningstar2 · 14/10/2024 15:52

Wow!! That doesn't happen to me. Mind you I'm a total wimp and raise my hand to stop at the slightest hint of pain. So I'm sure my teeth haven't been as thoroughly done as yours. Also as part of my dental package I get a clean every 6 months. Not sure id this is the same as the scale and polish you had done? I did have a kind of deep clean treatment with this dentist when I started with this firm a few years ago. Maybe that's what you had? Mine wasn't painful but I was given pain killing injections at the time though. Don't know if it would have been as painful as yours without or whether it was because, as I mentioned, I'm a total wimp. 😀 Hope you are ok op. Was it NHS or private dentist?

Ohh yes now I am wondering if it actually was a deep clean!!! I will Google the difference. Hours later and it still throbs. I have took some paracetamols... God I am a total wimp!! Got some mouthwash too. It is part of NHS but I pay, if that's the same. Paid for this pain!! X

OP posts:
Original poster
Tenerifesun14 · 14/10/2024 22:01

BobbyBiscuits · 14/10/2024 17:24

To be honest if there's debris and stuff in there then it will bleed. When I had an MH crisis I neglected my teeth really badly, but once I started cleaning properly again there was initially a lot of blood. Once the gums and teeth are clean and used to the friction of regular cleaning/flossing it should stop. I'm not saying you have poor hygiene btw, I'm just talking from my own experience.
But just keep cleaning really thoroughly. Don't let the blood put you off being pretty vigarous.

He did say i need to start flossing .. which i don't do!! Also heard that water spray thingy is quite good. Think I need to up my dental routine x

OP posts:
Changingplace · 14/10/2024 22:01

StMarieforme · 14/10/2024 17:07

It hurts me so much. I loathe it and would happily never ever have it again. The injections hurt a lot too. Hate it all.

Same, I’ve never been able to deal with a scale & polish and even after having injections I still get pain if I’ve ever needed fillings. I absolutely hate the dentist I think I just have ultra sensitive teeth :(

Original poster
Tenerifesun14 · 14/10/2024 22:01

KatyJs · 14/10/2024 17:41

I think I actually mean local!!! He doesn't knock me out!!! 😂

Haha actually a general would've been great for me today x

OP posts:
outforawalkbiatch · 14/10/2024 22:03

I have mine done by hand as I can't tolerate the water thing
Last time I went the hygienist said "hand tools please" (or something) and the assistant was "HAND tools?!" Like we were in the 1800s or something
Yes, I can't have the water thing because it's cold!

Original poster
Tenerifesun14 · 14/10/2024 22:04

StMarieforme · 14/10/2024 17:07

It hurts me so much. I loathe it and would happily never ever have it again. The injections hurt a lot too. Hate it all.

I had my wisdom tooth out the other week and I would gladly go through an extraction again than this!! Mind you that wisdom tooth pain before was actually unbearable so getting it out was such a huge relief x not having a great time with my teeth at the moment. 🫣.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tenerifesun14 · 14/10/2024 22:06

Comedycook · 14/10/2024 17:04

I hadn't seen a dentist for years and recently went to one...I also had a 45 minute appointment with a hygienist.... absolutely no pain at all. I was incredibly relieved!

Aw that's fab, glad you had no pain and problems. Wonder if some dentists are more gentle or maybe I just have poor gums etc

OP posts:
Original poster
Tenerifesun14 · 14/10/2024 22:08

CrystalSingerFan · 14/10/2024 16:49

I can't comment on the state of your teeth/dental hygiene but I have sensitive teeth that weren't brilliantly cared for and I'm a snivelling coward. My advice:

  • if the dentist says go every 4 months instead of 6, do that.
  • if your hygienist used a sonic device, ask them to try JUST using a pointy scrapy thing. Mine does. It helps.
  • Tell them you're nervous.
  • Raise your hand every time you need a break. Have a sip of water.
  • Use Teepee brushes and floss. (i use those little plastic-handled things. Anything to encourage me to make an effort. Apologies to the environment.)

Good luck. 😬

Fab advice .. thankyou so much. I definitely need to up my dental regime .. I have just googled the teepee brushes and what floss I'm best getting. Hopefully this will all help now for next time xx

OP posts:
Original poster
Tenerifesun14 · 14/10/2024 22:10

Sdpbody · 14/10/2024 17:02

I have a scale and polish every 4 months as I'm a little obsessed with dental hygiene.

Mine NEVER hurts and my gums don't bleed at all.

If yours is hurting and bleeding, then you really need to be doing more in between appointment. Brushing twice a day, flossing at the same time, mouth wash etc. I would also be going as often as I could afford to have them cleaned.

Yes i think you are spot on there!! I totally do need to increase what I do. Xx

OP posts:
Scampuss · 14/10/2024 22:11

Rub some sensitive toothpaste over the sore bits. If you up your own dental hygiene it will be much less brutal next time!

Original poster
Tenerifesun14 · 14/10/2024 22:14

Krumblina · 14/10/2024 16:06

If it's very sore then you really needed it!
If your gums are very healthy it doesn't really hurt or bleed. So keep at it regularly along with flossing and it'll get better.

I really did need it. Although it is still throbbing now, it has really made my teeth look so much cleaner and brighter. Now I need to up my game and floss etc . Hoping next time won't be as bad x

OP posts:
coxesorangepippin · 14/10/2024 22:20

Yeah I always have paracetamol before mine

BobbyBiscuits · 14/10/2024 23:50

@Tenerifesun14 ah, yeah, if you're not flossing the gums will bleed alot at first. Definitely floss twice a day. If you struggle to reach the back ones use tp brushes. If you floss between every tooth or tp regularly the gum health will improve a lot and should stop bleeding.
You're on the right path. Do just keep doing your good new routine x