Last week was the roughest dental hygiene appointment I’ve had in my life. The hygienist was so aggressive and had to rinse my bloody mouth several times during the cleaning. I’ve never had an experience like this, since most hygienists finish the cleaning in 20 to 30 minutes and say that I have minimal plaque and tartar buildup. However, this hygienist was unapologetic and said she found a lot of tartar and even cleaned some below my gumline. My gums were sore and swollen the next day. I’m concerned. Can a dental hygienist cause lasting gum damage? Carmen from NE

Carmen,

An effective dental cleaning is largely about meticulously removing hard deposits (calculus) from your teeth, especially deposits found beneath the gumline. This isn’t something that can be rushed; a proper cleaning should take at least 40 minutes. While quick cleanings might make teeth appear clean, many quality dental practices provide their hygienists with an hour to ensure a comprehensive job.

Can a Dental Hygienist’s Cleaning Technique Harm Your Gums?

Can a dental hygienist cause permanent gum damage? Yes, but primarily by failing to fully remove calculus deposits. Chronic inflammation resulting from uncleaned deposits can lead to the destruction of the bony support that holds your teeth in place. Here’s what this means:

• Long-term inflammation: Persistent calculus buildup inflames the gums.
• Bone loss: Inflammation can gradually erode the bone supporting your teeth.
• Indirect damage: The damage would stem from lack of proper cleaning, not an aggressive cleaning.

Your most recent hygienist, by performing a thorough cleaning, actually provided essential care. We recommend considering with her for your future appointments.

If there was significant calculus buildup from prior insufficient cleanings, a proper, thorough cleaning would likely involve some discomfort and bleeding. These hardened deposits cause gum inflammation, so when a hygienist effectively cleans deep under the gums, some bleeding is to be expected.

It’s a less likely scenario, but if your last hygienist was overly aggressive and caused bleeding in otherwise healthy gums, that would be considered soft tissue damage. Fortunately, this type of injury usually heals completely without any lasting effects.

Brian LeSage, DDS, an accredited fellow of cosmetic dentistry in Beverly Hills, sponsors this post.