Avoid brushing or flossing the treated area(s) for 12 hours. However, after 12 hours it is very important that you continue to brush very well. Please be careful brushing, and use a SOFT toothbrush.
A dentist near you will advise against any dental-related activities during the first 30 minutes after your treatment. Your teeth need ample time to absorb the mineral. However, teeth brushing should not happen after 30 minutes of treatment.
On average, it takes about 5 – 7 days for your gums to heal after deep cleaning. During this period, it's possible to experience minor gum soreness, swelling, and tooth sensitivity.
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles to gently brush the teeth after meals. It is okay to skip flossing in the first 24 hours after a deep clean. Resume flossing as soon as the tenderness in the gums subsides. This should happen within 48 hours.
Avoid brushing or flossing the treated area(s) for 12 hours. However, after 12 hours it is very important that you continue to brush very well. Please be careful brushing, and use a SOFT toothbrush.
The good news is you don't have to wait long. You can eat as soon as you feel ready to do so. But this is if you only had a deep dental cleaning. If your dentist did a cleaning and a fluoride treatment, you'll have to wait for at least thirty minutes.
Within a week the gums will start to heal and reattach to the roots of the teeth. The initial discomfort should be gone. Full recovery and reattachment can take up to 6 or 8 weeks, but patients are usually back to normal eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing within the first week.
If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, and suffer from bone loss, inflammation, and/or tartar has accumulated beneath the gumline, then the hygienist will need to clean 'deeper' below the gumline, and this is often known as a dental deep cleaning.
Brush and floss gently following a deep cleaning, resuming normal brushing and flossing when the soreness is gone. If an antimicrobial mouthwash such as chlorhexidine Gluconate or peridex has been prescribed for you, rinse with it for 30 seconds daily before bedtime. Do not drink or eat for 30 minutes afterward.
Avoid any chewing until the numbness has completely worn off. Wait at least two hours before eating, and then select a soft diet for the first 48-72 hours, chewing on the opposite side of your mouth. Avoid alcoholic drinks and hot or spicy foods until your gums are healed.
Avoiding coffee for hours after your dental cleaning is critical because the dark dyes in coffee can stain your teeth. The dark components can make their way through the enamel in your teeth. The compounds can eventually cause the teeth to become dark and unappealing.
Most swelling can occur in the morning and up to 3 days after surgery. Avoid sleeping/laying on the side that surgery was performed. Two days after surgery, moist heat will help resolve minor swelling.
After Treatment
-It is normal for your gums to feel tender. We strongly recommend rinsing twice daily for two days with warm (not hot) salt water to speed-up healing and reduce tenderness. Dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in a glass of 8oz (1 cup) warm water.
The deep dental cleaning process involves three steps: preparation, scaling/root planing, and final treatments. The length of the procedure depends on the number of periodontal pockets you have.
Although deep teeth cleanings are uncomfortable, you will likely not experience severe discomfort because you receive local anesthesia or topical anesthetic to numb your gums. However, you can expect some sensitivity to the procedure with swelling and minor bleeding.
The American Dental Association recommends you see your dentist at least once a year for deep cleaning. If you have a history of gum disease, you should get your teeth cleaned twice a year to prevent infections or complications.
While any gum loss experienced due to gum disease will not grow back, the majority of patients can expect their gums to reattach after undergoing a deep cleaning. This is because all of the harmful bacteria has been removed, allowing the gums to once again be healthy.
For some, the “weird” feeling may be a sense of cleanliness by not having a film of plaque on their teeth. For others, they may experience temporary tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity most often occurs after a dentist performs a deep cleaning which involves more contact with a patient's gums than regular cleaning.
So, How Long Does a Deep Cleaning Take? The process for a deep teeth cleaning usually requires more than one visit. On average, you can assume that your dentist or highly skilled hygienist will be able to clean ¼ of your mouth in about 45-60 minutes or so, depending on the level of plaque and hardened calculus buildup.
A tooth that is free of tartar has a better chance of allowing the gum tissues to heal and reattach to it. As a result, some deep gum pockets can be reduced after a deep cleaning.
Any food or drink that is high in acid like tomatoes, citrus fruits, pickles, fruit juice and red wine are harsh on your mouth after a deep dental cleaning. Spicy and heavily seasoned foods may also cause your mouth some discomfort. Foods like hamburgers will cause you to open your mouth wider.
Deep cleanings not only polish the visible part of the teeth but smooth down the surface of the root to help treat gum disease. This treatment often takes several hours and may cost from $150 to $300 without insurance. However, if you request anesthetics, the price for a deep cleaning may be significantly higher.
Foods that are safe to eat
Dentists recommend restricting your diet to bland foods that are easy to chew and swallow for the first few days after root scaling and planing. Foods like pasta, mashed potatoes, and eggs should not aggravate tender gum tissues.