Last week I had my second visit at my new dentist. The first visit was crazy. The hygienist was so rough with my teeth that my gums started bleeding. Her reason for the blood was that I had so much plaque on my teeth. I found that all strange because I have been brushing and flossing my teeth daily for more years than I could remember and always get my 6 mo. checkups and cleaning. I decided to give the office another chance because I really like the dentist. I got the same hygienist last week and she was rough again. The dentist and the hygienist that I had before were gentle and no one ever told me that I had a lot of plaque build up on my teeth. I can’t go back to my old dentist because I live 250 miles away. Can the hygienist ruin my gums with this aggressive cleaning? How can I get her to stop being so rough in my mouth? Regina
Regina,
We’re sorry that you are having difficulty with dental cleanings. Your new hygienist may be too aggressive with your cleanings. Another possibility is that the former hygienist may have been more hesitant to remove the plaque because it requires more force, and bleeding may result.
Plaque builds up on your teeth over time. It is often tooth colored and looks like part of your teeth. If your former hygienist didn’t remove all of the plaque, it is difficult to remove it. Plaque buildup can cause gum inflammation and bleeding. Trying to remove the plaque from around your teeth can cause sensitive, inflamed gums to bleed.
It is unlikely that your new hygienist has damaged your teeth or gums. You may find it helpful to ask your new dentist about the plaque buildup on your teeth and whether or not it is excessive. Although a dentist or hygienist is gentle, thoroughness is also required. The process of being thorough in removing plaque can cause your gums to bleed. You can also ask to be assigned to a different hygienist in the office.
This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Collins.