After a deep cleaning, you may feel gaps between your teeth due to the removal of tartar and the reduction of swollen gums. However, these gaps are actually evidence of positive healing in your gums and overall improvement in dental health.
Did you know you can run your tongue around your teeth right after a dental cleaning and feel like there are new gaps where there weren't any before?
This is often unexpected and sometimes even worrisome when you think about it. But in the vast majority of cases, finding these gaps is a positive outcome of the cleaning process.
After a professional teeth cleaning in Encino, you have just removed the plaque and calculus that were blocking your ability to see the shape of your teeth. Therefore, most of the new-found gaps you feel in your mouth after a professional cleaning are formed by the removal of plaque and then the reduction of swollen tissue from around your teeth.
Let's explore how this happens and the significance of finding these "gaps" to your gum health.
The majority of these "gaps" you feel after a cleaning were not created simply by cleaning but instead result from the removal of hardened plaque that is no longer filling those areas.
These "gaps" often were not visible before but now are visibly noticeable because there is no longer any plaque covering the natural surface of those "gaps" as a result of the removal of plaque through professional dental cleaning.
When tartar is built up and collects between or along your teeth and gums, it can cause you to experience how wide your teeth feel about each other before they get cleaned off. When tartar removal occurs via teeth cleaning in Encino, there will be spaces where tartar used to be present between your teeth.
When your gums are inflamed or swollen, there are less spaces between the various areas of the gum. But after a dental cleaning, the inflammation goes down, and you may have noticed some spaces between the parts of your gums are more pronounced, but this is only because they are returning back to their healthy size. The increased separation is a sign of recovery for the gums.
After a dental cleaning, the plaque and tartar are removed from the tooth’ surface allowing for the tooth’s surfaces to appear smoother than before; thus, increasing their definition. As a result, all of the small, natural spaces between the teeth will be much more discernable than they were prior to the cleaning.
The majority of the time, what appears to be “gaps” between your teeth after having received dental cleaning is considered a positive sign of improvement with one’s gum health.
Prior to the cleaning, the presence of plaque and tartar buildup will contribute to minor inflammation of the gums causing them to overlap slightly thereby causing the teeth to feel closer together than they actually do. Following the completion of the dental cleaning, the inflammation begins to abate and the gums return to their appropriate size of their parts.
At this time, the spaces are actually visible and a result of having received cleaning with healthy gingival/gums and devoid of swelling and/or buildup.
It is perfectly normal for your teeth to feel different after having them cleaned. You might notice minor gaps in your teeth, a little sensitivity to cold, or that your teeth feel smoother or have a cleaner feeling overall, however, over the next several days these differences will typically settle down as your gums adjust to their cleaner positions.
If things continue to feel abnormal beyond the initial phase - ongoing bleeding, increased pain, or receding gums (not that you would know) are three things that should be noted and followed up on; they are not always serious or indicating something serious is going on, but they do indicate your gums may need extra attention.
A quick visit to the dentist after you have had your teeth cleaned in Encino can help you understand if you need to see them again.
After having your teeth cleaned, your gums may be a little sensitive, so ensure you take gentle care of them - brush gently, don't skip flossing, and try to avoid eating anything very hard or very spicy for one to two days. The spaces between your teeth that you feel will now be much easier to clean now so you will want to create good hygiene habits at this time.
You will also want to stay hydrated and avoid over-brushing your teeth; both will help your gums to feel comfortable after your teeth have been cleaned.
Cleanings are an important part of keeping your smile looking great and helping to reduce the likelihood of developing larger problems in the future. Over time, plaque builds up on your teeth and eventually hardens to tartar and cannot be removed by brushing (no matter how well you do it). Regular dental cleanings (about every six months) in Encino will help you to get rid of that plaque and tar tar build-up and will also help to reduce irritation to the gums, allowing you to detect any problems with your teeth early on.
There are a number of myths surrounding this experience-
“Cleaning created gaps in my teeth”
→ The gaps were already there, just hidden by buildup or swelling.
“My teeth have shifted”
→ Teeth don’t move suddenly after cleaning.
“Something went wrong during the procedure”
→ In most cases, this is simply a normal result of proper cleaning.
By understanding this, you can alleviate anxiety associated with having had your teeth cleaned in Encino.
Gaps that occur between teeth after a cleaning may not be what you expected. But they are good indicators of creating a healthier environment in your mouth. As the plaque and tartar are removed, and the gum swelling is reduced from all that dirt being removed, both your teeth and gums return to their correct position. While you may take time to become used to having a gap between your teeth; it will ultimately always be a positive thing.
If you continue to have concerns, follow-up following your teeth cleaning in Encino to discuss any questions or concerns.
Why do my teeth feel farther apart after cleaning?
This happens because plaque and tartar had filled the spaces between your teeth before your cleaning; after the cleaning, your teeth are back to their natural state.
Are gaps after teeth cleaning permanent?
The spaces between your teeth were not created by the cleaning; they had already existed. Although they may be noticeable at first, they will become much less visible as your gums heal.
Should I be worried about gum disease?
Not usually. Often, the new gap between your teeth is simply an indicator of decreased/increased inflammation. If your symptoms linger for an extended time, you should talk with your doctor.