You may be considering visiting the hygienist for the first time and wondering whether a professional tooth cleaning is painful.
To put your mind at rest, why not contact us to book an appointment with your dentist for a physical exam to rule out any signs of periodontitis (gum disease) and to manage any inflammation you may have which may mean you have sensitive teeth or even need root canal treatment.
Then, if your dentist is happy for you to proceed to see your dental hygienist, then you can raise any remaining concerns or questions with them during your first consultation. To numb your gums, you could ask for a local anaesthetic before the professional tooth cleaning is conducted for you.
Your teeth cleaning regime at home
One way to minimise any temporary sensitivity, abrasion or discomfort during a professional tooth cleaning appointment is to optimise the way you brush and care for your teeth at home. We recommend brushing twice a day with an electric toothbrush and the use of floss or interdental brushes to really offer your mouth the deepest clean you can achieve by yourself at home.
Dental hygiene at Wimpole Street Dental Clinic
We know that our patients have concerns about whether cleaning teeth is painful so we have invested in the latest technology to assist.
At our London clinic, we have a brand-new EMS prophylaxis master which uses a combination of dye to locate the bacterium and other components and a bicarbonate powder/water mix (AIRFLOW® and PERIOFLOW®) to gently remove it above and below the gum line. If needed, a debridement follows using piezoceramic instruments (PIEZON® PS No Pain) or ultrasonic hand-held ones by our skilled dental hygienists.
Our innovative and highly effective system removes almost any staining and in some cases brightens teeth so much that a separate tooth whitening treatment is no longer required.
Ways to keep teeth clean to help avoid pain
- Consider brushing and flossing your teeth after every meal to help remove a build-up of plaque
- Consider reducing your consumption of high sugar, high starch foods to reduce the build-up of plaque in the mouth
- Invest in a good quality electric toothbrush to access with more precision the harder to reach areas of the mouth
- Use interdental brushes every time you clean your teeth if you find flossing difficult
- Schedule in a routine of regular dental and dental hygienist appointments during the year so any tooth or gum discomfort can be identified early, remedied promptly, minimising any possible related pain when you visit us again.
Ask your dental hygienist to talk you through each step of the professional tooth cleaning treatment you are about to have, so you know what to expect. The plaque removal step is often considered the most discomforting but other patients dislike the polishing pastes used to buff teeth afterwards.
Please know that to be completely reassured, you are more than welcome to view inside our clinic to see our ultramodern equipment for yourself.
