If you have sensitive teeth, or you just hate invasive dental treatments, deep teeth cleanings can feel like a necessary evil. Emphasis on the word evil. But loathe them or not, they are essential for good oral health. Here’s how you can make them less painful.

The number one tip for less painful teeth cleanings

The number one way to make teeth cleanings less painful is to have them more often. You may hate that idea, but the more you go, the cleaner and healthier your teeth will be. That means each follow up teeth cleaning will be far less invasive. Go less often and there’ll be more plaque and debris build-up, and you’ll need a deeper (and more uncomfortable) clean.

Tips for less painful teeth cleanings

As well as visiting your dentist for teeth cleanings a little more often, here’s what you can do for a more comfortable treatment.

Take pain relief

Inflamed gums and sore teeth after your appointment just aren’t fun. You can minimise inflammation by taking an anti-inflammatory painkiller before and after your appointment. Take 600-800mg an hour before and the same does six hours after.

Request local anaesthetic

If you have sensitive teeth and gums, you may find deep teeth cleanings particularly. Ask your topic to apply some local anaesthetic to minimise discomfort.

Try a toothpaste for sensitive teeth and gums

This can help get your teeth and gums in good shape before your appointment.

Get serious about your home oral care routine

The cleaner and healthier your teeth are to begin with, the less invasive and uncomfortable teeth cleanings will be. Brush your teeth twice per day, don’t skip flossing, and use a good mouthwash. For extra cleaning in between teeth at home, invest in a tooth cleaner.

Ditch the manual toothbrush

Overbrushing can cause tooth sensitivity and it’s all too easy to do with a manual brush. As well as being a gentler option, electric toothbrushes can also get below the gum line to clean away plaque and debris. That means less scraping will be needed during your teeth cleaning.

For more articles on oral health and the products you need for a bright and healthy smile, check out the rest of our blog.