Scale and Polish !!! Pain

[Tenerifesun14]

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!!!

It's never the best way to pass the time but some hygienists are gentler than others . I only see one at my dentist as the other one is so rough. Second taking paracetamol before hand and I ask them to check the water is not ice cold before starting.

I ended up with a dental phobia after a particularly brutal scale and polish and didn't go for 7 years. I had bad gum disease by this point and now go every 3 months for a hygienist appointment. Take paracetamol 20 minutes before you go, it helps. And find a sympathetic dentist who will take their time and give you a break if you need one.

Did they use the electric scaler? That one hurts me too. I have to have the hand scaler and some numbing done first. Ask for that next time. You may have sensitive teeth but it sounds like your gums need work too, as they are bleeding. If flossing daily doesn't do the trick, try a Waterpik.

It can massively depend on your menstrual cycle, the gum bleeding and pain.

So plan your dental appointments first the 2 weeks after your period.

In essence the same hormone that makes the lining of the womb loose blood is everywhere in your body so it softens your gums as well and you get more bleeding.

Sorry it's late and I can't recall if it's oestrogen or progesterone that's the evil period starter!

Mine uses the method with water (ultrasound?) and I feel like I'm drowning. It's really unpleasant. Then she finishes by hand and stabs the tool in good and proper. It's worse than a filling (at least for that you get an anaesthetic).

Also there's not a lot of bleeding but every time I go to the dentist or hygienist my mouth gets massive cracks at the corners and my lips (inside and out) are shredded. I have skin peeling off them for a week. I think it is a technique to stop people snacking because I can barely eat and have to live on homemade milkshakes though a straw until they are healed!

If your gums are bleeding, it's probable that you have the start of gum disease, and you possibly have halitosis. You need to floss daily.

This sounds dreadful. I've had the full gum planing thing and regular descaling for the last 5 years and never feel like this afterwards. I would find someone else.

My son’s lips go like this after the dentist too and I’ve been wondering if it is a latex sensitivity to the gloves - could that be a possibility for you?

I just had my scale and polish today. The hygienist said there was only a tiny bit of bleeding, indicating good gum health. I do have sensitive teeth and some exposed roots, so I get the dentist to fully numb me and don't feel a thing. Anybody who has sensitive teeth and feels a lot of pain during cleanings, just ask for the freezing first. It works like a charm. Don't take no for an answer if they don't want to do it. Get a dentist who will. Also, floss daily and use a waterpik at least three times a week if you have extensive bleeding of the gums during cleanings. I can also recommend cistus tea. It's quite expensive but effective for killing plaque. Since I started drinking it, there is very little scaling needed to remove tartar. I only had tartar in one area, and I used to have it everywhere.

@Tenerifesun14 mine was brutal too I think alot of them are rough

I go to my hygienist every 4 months rather than 6 to keep on top of plaque, etc. I have very sensitive teeth, so used to get some numbing if I needed it, but moving from every 6 months to every 4 has really made a difference and i have not needed any anaesthetic for a while. I force myself to go as it’s defo an important element of self care. My hygienist recommended a water flosser thing too but I’ve not got round to getting one yet.

@Purplecatshopaholic so now you have no pain

@Purplecatshopaholic are you the same op with name change

I had the water method -air flow- and agree it was unpleasant and felt like drowning . I thought it would be a less drastic method of cleaning, but I won’t have it done again.,

No, another person.. 😁