Last Wednesday, I had the longest, bloodiest, most painful dental cleaning ever. The dental hygienist said I had a lot of tartar buildup. However, I don’t believe that because I keep my six-month hygiene appointments, and I am usually out of the office in 30 minutes. I’m concerned about any damage done to my gums since they bled so badly. Will my gums heal? Thanks. Micah from MI

Micah,

Thorough dental cleaning is more than polishing the surface of your teeth. It means removing hardened calculus deposits from below the gumline. This takes at least 40 minutes, and many practices schedule an hour for careful, thorough work.

Why Would Teeth Cleaning Hurt and Cause Bleeding?

If buildup wasn’t removed during past cleanings, your gums may have been inflamed for a long time. When a hygienist finally removes hardened deposits, the process can be painful and lead to bleeding. This doesn’t mean something went wrong. Your gum tissue is reacting to overdue care.

Common reasons for bleeding during a deep cleaning include:

• Hardened deposits irritate and inflame the gums.
• Removing tartar and bacteria requires cleaning beneath the gumline.
• Inflamed gums bleed easily but improve after dental cleaning.

Can Hygienists Damage Gums Permanently?

A hygienist can contribute to long-term gum problems by not fully cleaning off deposits. Left behind, those deposits trigger inflammation that can damage the bone supporting your teeth. If your recent hygienist removed the deposits, she likely prevented further damage to your teeth and gums.

What If a Dental Hygienist Is Aggressive?

If a hygienist cleans too aggressively, any harm would be limited to the soft tissue. Soft-tissue damage heals without leaving permanent damage.

The Monroe, Louisiana, dentists at Bayou Dental Group sponsor this post. Please read how Dr. Finley and his team offer some of the best dental care in Monroe.