Gums Healing After Deep Teeth Cleaning
After you have had your gum disease treated with a deep cleaning, you need to take steps to be sure that your mouth heals well and your gums reattach to your teeth without complications. Here are some suggestions to help your gums heal:
- When your mouth is still numb from the procedure, do not eat. Your dentist may have advised you to not eat prior to your deep cleaning, but when your mouth is not fully back to feeling, you may end up biting your tongue or cheeks.
- Choose the foods you do eat after the procedure carefully. Your gums and teeth may be sensitive the same day and for the next few days after your deep cleaning. Highly acidic foods like citrus fruit and tomatoes can be irritating. Foods that require extensive chewing like steak should be avoided. Crunchy and hard foods like carrots and chips are not ideal when your mouth is in a more delicate state. And foods that can create small pieces that can get stuck or lodged in your mouth like popcorn are best to enjoy long after your deep cleaning.
- Keep some over the counter pain relievers nearby when you get home from your deep cleaning. You will most likely feel some aching and discomfort as the numbing starts to fade and medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen will help. Each medicine has a different recommended dose and how frequently to take them so be sure to read the labels carefully.
- Use the antibiotics for the full course the dentist prescribed. Not everyone will need antibiotics, but some people will take oral antibiotics, others will use an antibiotic rinse, and others may use a topical treatment to help keep the removed bacteria at bay.
- The swelling and aching may go away the same day as the procedure, but it may last up to a week. Everyone heals at a different rate for a variety of reasons but you should talk to the dentist before the procedure if you are concerned about recovering from a deep cleaning.
- Minor bleeding may happen for up to 48 hours after the procedure. You may have the taste of blood in your mouth or you may notice a slight pink hue in your saliva the following day or two after your deep cleaning. If your bleeding continues past the 48 hour mark or becomes excessive at any point, it is important to contact the dentist. Avoiding excessive rinsing the first 48 hours will help prevent any unnecessary bleeding.
- The dentist may recommend an oral rinse following the deep cleaning or you may choose to use a salt water rinse four to six times a day. These rinses will help remove any lingering bacteria or new bacteria while your mouth heals.
- Avoid drinking hot beverages like coffee and tea while your mouth is healing in the following 48 hours after the deep cleaning. The warm temperature can trigger more bleeding or cause the discomfort to increase.