Three Ways to Manage Tooth Sensitivity After Scaling

Dentist Blog

If you've just had your teeth and gums scaled as part of a gum disease management program, then your dentist might have warned you that you might have a little pain and discomfort until your mouth settles down again. You may also, however, start to notice that your teeth suddenly become much more sensitive than usual. If this happens, you may find it hard to eat or drink anything hot, cold or sweet without setting your teeth on edge.

Typically, this sensitivity is just an after-effect of the scaling treatment, and your teeth will settle down again after a few days. In the meantime, you can try to reduce sensitivity aches and twinges. The following three tips may help.

Modify your eating/drinking habits

Your teeth may feel fine most of the time, until they come into contact with stuff that is at either extreme of the heat scale and, in some cases, sweet. To avoid sensitivity twinges, you can simply switch to eating and drinking warm rather than hot or cold stuff. For example, letting a meal cool down a little before you eat could make a difference; not putting ice in drinks will make a big difference. If sweet stuff sets your teeth on edge, take a break from sugar for a few days.

Try products for sensitive teeth

Sensitive toothpastes block the teeth's ability to send pain signals, so switching to a sensitive brand may help you get over the hump of scaling sensitivity. Bear in mind that it can take a while for sensitive toothpastes to work, so it may be worth switching a couple of weeks before your scaling treatment if you can. If it's too late for that, you may find that rubbing a tiny bit of a sensitive or even a regular fluoride toothpaste on teeth that are twinging may help.

Use a salt water rinse

Your dentist may well recommend that you use a salt water rinse after a scaling treatment to help reduce pain and inflammation. This kind of rinse may also help you deal with sensitivity, especially if sweet stuff is getting to you. Swilling salt water around your mouth can also help get rid of any stubborn bits of food stuck in your teeth or gums that might be making your teeth sensitive. This is especially useful in the first few days after scaling, when you might have to scale down your tooth cleaning routine because your gums are a little uncomfortable.

If your sensitivity is really bad or if it lasts for more than a few days without any sign of improvement, then talk to your dentist. Although you're likely to just need more time for things to settle down at this stage, your dentist may be able to make things easier for you by recommending or prescribing desensitising gels or rinses.

8 June 2018