“Can scaling damage gums?”
I had a scaling yesterday. My gums are swollen. Can scaling damage gums?
6 Answers
not damage but could be swollen or sore if a lot of tartar was removed....they should heal up soon.
Swelling is one of the normal healing signs after SRP. Swelling usually went down after 2 days and if it get worse, consult with a dentist. Warm salt water goggle helps.
Not long term. If you had a scaling that had to go below the gum line that can leave you with some discomfort and inflammation. Warm salt water rinses for your gums and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication for discomfort may help. If it does not feel better in 48 to 72 hours, call your dentist and discuss this further as they will know how swollen your gums were before the scaling and can speak to your needs directly.
Scaling is designed to remove the plaque, tartar and bacteria that infects the gums. Sometimes immediately after scaling, your gum can be very tender while they heal, however, abnormal swelling or pain may mean that there is some tartar that was left or other issues. I recommend warm salt water rinses, or rinsing with any prescription rinse your dentist may have prescribed, and then good, gentle brushing and flossing. Ibuprofen and/or Tylenol can also help. If the gums do not improve in 2-3 days, or if the symptoms worsen, I would contact your dentist for an evaluation.
If scaling is done improperly, yes, it can damage gums. However, it is well within normal to have swelling for 1-3 days after deep cleaning. I recommend rinsing with a warm salt water rinse, and, if not medically contraindicated, taking some ibuprofen or tylenol as needed. After 2-3 days, you should notice the swelling decreasing, less bleeding when brushing and flossing and less pain.
A scaling removes infective mineralized plaque [tartar/calculus] from the roots of your teeth. That infection makes your gums bleed and swell as the bone and soft tissue recede. Removing the infecting agent correctly shouldn't damage the gums, but the infected gums are often very fragile.
