Why does tooth sensitivity occur after tartar cleaning?

Author of the article:

Soldatova Lyudmila Nikolaevna

Candidate of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Clinical Dentistry of the St. Petersburg Medical and Social Institute, Chief Physician of the Alfa-Dent Dental Clinic, St. Petersburg

An annoying toothache after brushing is a very unpleasant phenomenon. It seems that it is possible to endure these sensations, but isn’t such persistence dangerous? Of course it is dangerous. Moreover, such abnormal reactions can indicate complex diseases of the teeth and oral cavity, which, without surgical treatment, will progress and destroy a snow-white smile.

Let's figure out why teeth start to hurt after brushing, how to cure such manifestations and avoid them in the future.

Does it hurt to clean stones on your teeth?

The specific sensations of a particular patient depend on the method of cleaning the stone on the teeth and the individual sensitivity of the person. Everyone's pain threshold is different, so you shouldn't rely on other people's reviews. What may seem intolerable to someone else will remind you of a mosquito bite and vice versa.

Important. When choosing a method for removing stones from teeth, listen to your doctor’s recommendations. The dentist makes a decision based on the results of the examination - the condition of the enamel, the amount of deposits, predisposition or the presence of diseases such as periodontal disease and periodontitis.

Ultrasonic cleaning

Hard dental deposits can only be removed using an ultrasonic scaler. Under the influence of ultrasonic waves, the stones completely crumble, while the enamel remains intact. The procedure is practically painless, but with increased sensitivity, discomfort may occur. In this case, the doctor uses special anesthesia.

A slight pain may also occur when treating gum pockets. But the feeling is quite tolerable and lasts literally a fraction of a second. Ultrasonic cleaning is the only possible way to remove hard stones from pockets, and you should not refuse to do it. It is better to warn your doctor before the procedure that you have increased tooth sensitivity.

When treating areas with enamel, that is, the teeth themselves, pain, as a rule, does not occur.

The main advantages of the method include:

• ideal cleaning quality - the enamel becomes smooth and even;
• the ability to remove hard deposits from interdental spaces and hard-to-reach places;
• bactericidal effect - pathogenic microflora dies under the influence of ultrasonic waves, which reduces the risk of caries;
• optical effect - after removing brown spots and stripes, the enamel becomes visually lighter.

The procedure for removing tartar is mandatory before prosthetics, implantation, before installing braces, and other orthopedic manipulations. Hygienic cleaning with a scaler is also indicated in cases of periodontal disease and periodontitis, twice a year. In other cases, it is recommended to remove tartar with ultrasound once every 12 months.

The duration of the procedure depends on the condition of the patient’s teeth, but, as a rule, does not exceed 40-60 minutes. In especially severe cases, the doctor performs cleaning over several visits.

There are contraindications:

• severe heart disease, the presence of a pacemaker - the ultrasonic wave can disrupt the rhythm of the heart or the device;
• pregnancy - ultrasonic cleaning can negatively affect the development of the fetus, and also lead to miscarriage or premature birth;
• increased pathological sensitivity of the enamel - here we are talking not so much about the pain syndrome, but about the reaction of the body as a whole;
• rehabilitation period after operations and infectious diseases.

Another risk factor is childhood. You can remove stones from your teeth no earlier than two years after the last tooth erupts.

Important. It is not possible to remove hard plaque from teeth at home. In fact, the stone grows into the pores of the enamel, and even the hardest toothbrush is not able to remove it.

Laser removal

From a pain point of view, the procedure is considered completely painless. The laser beam completely destroys hard and soft deposits without affecting the enamel. Dentists recommend removing tartar with a laser in cases where cleaning of the gum pockets is not required. Perhaps this is the only drawback of the procedure.

After laser cleaning, the enamel becomes smoother, its resistance to external influences increases, and the likelihood of caries, gingivitis, and stomatitis decreases. The procedure takes no more than an hour. The main indication for laser stone removal is the presence of hard plaque on the teeth.

There are a number of contraindications - pregnancy, postoperative period, decreased immunity, infectious diseases. These also include untreated caries, a large number of fillings, and increased sensitivity of tooth enamel.

Laser stone removal is an expensive procedure.

Air-Flow

The procedure involves cleaning teeth from stone using a water-dispersed mixture under pressure. Small crystals remove soft plaque from the enamel, while simultaneously polishing it. The main advantage of the technique is a high degree of teeth cleansing even in the most difficult to reach places, including gum pockets.

Air-Flow is traditionally used in combination as a subsequent step after ultrasonic cleaning. As a result, teeth are completely cleaned of hard and soft deposits. The teeth become smooth, as if polished.

The special advantages of the method include:

• painlessness - the patient does not experience discomfort even with very sensitive enamel;
• excellent result - interdental spaces, gum pockets are perfectly cleaned, pigmentation is eliminated;
• natural whitening – by removing stains, teeth become one or two shades lighter;
• hypoallergenic - the mixture contains water, fine-crystalline soda, citrus fragrance.

The effect is especially noticeable for those who have orthopedic structures installed in their mouths - crowns, braces, veneers, implants. The procedure is also recommended for regular use by smokers and lovers of strong tea and coffee.

Removing stones from teeth using this method is contraindicated:

• patients with respiratory diseases - to avoid a possible attack;
• with thin enamel and pathological sensitivity of teeth;
• with caution during pregnancy.

The procedure is carried out in 30-40 minutes, while the patient experiences a feeling of comfort, which is facilitated by a light massage of the gums.

Complete cleaning of teeth and interdental pockets reduces the risk of caries to a minimum.

Chemical removal

It is also possible to clean off old tartar chemically - this method is now used extremely rarely, only in cases where ultrasound and air flow are powerless. A composition containing chemically active substances is applied to the enamel. Under their influence, the stone softens and is cleaned manually.

The method is painless, but is not recommended for thin enamel, increased tooth sensitivity and the presence of open carious cavities.

The second name of the procedure is chemical bleaching. The enamel becomes lighter by 3-4 tones.

Mechanical cleaning

The procedure is extremely unpleasant and is now practically not used anywhere. Hard tartar and soft plaque are removed with special metal spatulas. During the manipulation, there is a high risk that the doctor’s hand may slip and the instrument may damage the gums. The effectiveness of the method is in question, since it is not possible to completely remove deposits.

Contraindications to ultrasonic brushes

Due to the presence of ultrasonic microvibration, the use of such brushes is not recommended for persons:

• with veneers, fillings and crowns, as their service life is reduced;
• with areas of loose and porous enamel, due to the fact that the development of the carious process accelerates due to the destruction of defective enamel;
• with gingivitis and periodontitis, due to the increased spread of infection by hematogenous route;
• with periodontal disease, as the process of bone destruction accelerates;
• having precancerous changes and cancer, due to the acceleration of the division of atypical cells.

These significant drawbacks significantly limit the use of ultrasonic brushes, since almost 95% of the adult population have certain problems. It is also not recommended to use any power brushes during pregnancy or for people with pacemakers.

Is it painful to remove subgingival calculus?

When cleaning stone in subgingival pockets, in most cases, mild pain occurs. This is explained by the fact that the stone is attached directly to the periodontium. Even a thin layer of enamel significantly reduces tooth sensitivity; it simply does not exist in the subgingival zone. Therefore, discomfort during the procedure is a completely reliable and expected phenomenon.

Subgingival stone must be removed, as it causes the development of putrefactive bacteria and contributes to the occurrence of caries and inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity.

Clinical researches

Repeated clinical studies have proven that regular use of preventive toothpaste ASEPTA ACTIVE for a month can reduce bleeding gums by 60%, improve the overall condition of the oral cavity by 44% and reduce inflammation by 33%.

Sources:

1. Clinical and laboratory assessment of the influence of domestic therapeutic and prophylactic toothpaste based on plant extracts on the condition of the oral cavity in patients with simple marginal gingivitis. Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Elovikova T.M.1, Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor Ermishina E.Yu. 2, Doctor of Technical Sciences Associate Professor Belokonova N.A. 2 Department of Therapeutic Dentistry USMU1, Department of General Chemistry USMU2
2. Study of the clinical effectiveness of treatment and prophylactic agents of the Asepta line in the treatment of inflammatory periodontal diseases (A.I. Grudyanov, I.Yu. Aleksandrovskaya, V.Yu. Korzunina) A.I. GRUDYANOV, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof., Head of Department I.Yu. ALEXANDROVSKAYA, Ph.D. V.Yu. KORZUNINA, asp. Department of Periodontology, Central Research Institute of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, Rosmedtekhnologii, Moscow
3. Report on the determination/confirmation of the preventive properties of personal oral hygiene products “ASEPTA PLUS” Remineralization doctor-researcher A.A. Leontyev, head Department of Preventive Dentistry, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor S.B. Ulitovsky First St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I.P. Pavlova, Department of Preventive Dentistry
4. Clinical studies of antisensitive toothpaste “Asepta Sensitive” (A.A. Leontyev, O.V. Kalinina, S.B. Ulitovsky) A.A. LEONTIEV, dentist O.V. KALININA, dentist S.B. ULITOVSKY, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof. Department of Therapeutic Dentistry, St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I.P. Pavlova

Will my teeth hurt after the procedure?

Your teeth will not hurt after brushing the stone. On the contrary, the resulting feeling of freshness in the mouth contributes to an overall comfortable feeling. Your doctor may recommend using mouthwash for a while after cleansing.

Important. After the procedure, it is recommended not to eat or smoke for a couple of hours.

Do not ignore preventive visits to the dentist.

It is enough to visit a specialist 1 – 2 times a year, which will allow you to promptly identify any dental problem at an early stage of development. This means that its elimination will be quick, easy and without complications.

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Contraindications

Contraindications for hardware teeth cleaning include:

• wearing dentures and braces;
• the presence of implants in the body, including pacemakers;
• ARVI, active stage of tuberculosis, HIV infection;
• oncological diseases;
• pregnancy (or with the permission of an obstetrician-gynecologist);
• childhood, until all baby teeth are replaced.
• pregnancy.

Pregnancy is a relative contraindication to dental cleaning. Dental procedures can be performed during a satisfactory pregnancy with the permission of an obstetrician-gynecologist. If there is a threat of miscarriage or other serious conditions, it will be recommended to postpone the removal of stone deposits and the beauty of the smile.

Why is tartar dangerous?

Hard dental plaque is a conglomerate of complex composition, formed from microscopic food debris and iron and phosphorus compounds contained in saliva. In fact, the stone grows into the periodontium, and it is not possible to remove it on your own. First, a thick plaque forms on the teeth, which gradually hardens and turns into stone.

Dental plaque promotes the proliferation of pathogenic flora, resulting in caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. A favorable environment causes rapid growth of pathogenic bacteria and further damage to the periodontium.

The main signs of the appearance of tartar include:

• noticeable stripes, dots, spots of brown (in shades) color on the enamel;
• unpleasant, “heavy” odor from the mouth;
• internal sensation of enamel roughness.

The smile takes on an unaesthetic appearance, and the smell forces the interlocutor to stay away.

It is especially important to monitor the condition of teeth and remove tartar in a timely manner for those who smoke and drink strong tea and coffee. In this case, nicotine and tannins enter into the process of stone formation - deposits form much faster and acquire a characteristic dark brown color.

Important. The end result of an irresponsible attitude towards tartar is tooth loss.