Washing teeth won’t harm your teeth. Why do you feel a bit sore after cleaning your teeth?

The matter of tooth washing has long been familiar to everyone. However, in daily life, it is often heard that “after washing your teeth, you feel that the teeth leak and the gap become larger.”. Feeling the gap between your teeth widen. Is this the mistake of cleaning your teeth? In response, Wang Xiaofei, Deputy Chief Physician of the Periodontal Mucosa Department of Yinchuan Stomatological Hospital, said that the enlargement of the dental gap was not caused by tooth washing but rather by the destruction of the teeth by disease.

Many ask, “Why do I wash my teeth every day when I brush my teeth on time?”

The oral cavity is a “warehouse” of bacteria, which constantly accumulate on the tooth surface to form “dental plaque.” It cannot be rinsed off through mouthwash but can only

 be removed with a toothbrush and floss. A few minutes after brushing your teeth, bacteria begin to accumulate again. Over time, dental plaque will get more and more, just like water stains in a kettle. Calcification forms dental stones, which cannot be brushed off with any brush, and can only be removed by tooth washing. Dental calculus and plaque can irritate adjacent gums and periodontal tissues, leading to gradual exacerbation of chronic inflammation, including swelling and pain, tooth looseness, and tooth loss.

Tooth washing is still necessary for the sake of oral health. Currently, the most commonly used method in clinical practice is ultrasonic tooth washing, which uses high-frequency vibration to break down dental stones and stains on the surface of the teeth. Then it uses the water mist generated by the scaling machine to wash down the gravel and dental plaque, comprehensively cleaning the dead corners that are difficult to clean by regular brushing.

After some people wash their teeth, they always feel that the gaps between them have become more prominent and their teeth have become loose. It is suspected that the cleaning has damaged the teeth and gums. This is due to the removal of dental plaque and calculus attached to the teeth, as if the water and alkali in the kettle had been removed, revealing the original appearance of the teeth, and feeling “the gap between the teeth has become larger.”.

Patients with the severe periodontal disease usually have poor oral hygiene and many dental stones. There are inherent gaps between teeth, and dental rocks have a certain hardness. When they grow around the teeth, they can fill the gaps. The dental stones of adjacent teeth can also be connected, playing an invisible role in “fixing” the teeth. “Because the accumulation of dental stones on the tooth surface is a slow process, people usually do not have a feeling of foreign bodies. However, during the dental cleaning process, when the dental stones occupy a space, the crevices of the teeth will be exposed instantly, and the roots that are not covered by the dental stones will also be exposed. At this time, people tend to feel uncomfortable, feeling that the teeth are loose, and the crevices of the teeth become wider.” Wang Xiaofei explained.

This means that the enlarged gap between the teeth is due to a problem with the teeth themselves, and it is impossible to rely on tooth cleaning. Furthermore, the situation will only worsen if the dental calculus is not removed promptly.

Since tooth washing won’t harm your teeth, why do you feel a bit sore after washing your teeth?

Wang Xiaofei explained that the aches and pains after tooth washing were essentially caused by periodontal disease. Before tooth washing, the dental stones attached to the surface of the teeth act as a barrier to cold and heat, so many people develop the periodontal disease without knowing it. After tooth washing, the damaged periodontal tissue suddenly loses its coating, making it susceptible to warm water stimulation during tooth washing and causing pain. However, this sensitivity is temporary, and desensitizing toothpaste can alleviate symptoms and recovery after the periodontal disease is controlled and teeth adapt to the new environment.

In addition, tooth washing removes dental stones, which is different from tooth whitening. If someone has some pigment on their teeth, such as long-term smoking or drinking tea or coffee, they will feel their teeth turn white after cleaning them. However, if the original teeth are yellow or have fluorosis and tetracycline teeth, the teeth will not turn white after cleaning.

“Bleeding and swelling of the gums, discoloration of the teeth, enlargement, looseness, tooth loss, toothache, etc., are all signals of oral disease that cannot be ignored. Therefore, it is recommended to seek medical attention in a timely manner.” Gaps between teeth are “dead spots” in oral hygiene, and they are most likely to retain plaque and soft dirt, as the bristles cannot fully extend into them during brushing. Therefore, We recommend using dental floss after brushing.

Adults should also undergo an oral examination every six months or once a year to protect their teeth. Don’t overeat acidic foods at ordinary times. Rinse your mouth promptly after drinking tea, coffee, red wine, cola, etc. In addition to brushing your teeth correctly with EKONGSMILE’S Electric Toothbrush, you should regularly clean your teeth, preferably once every six months to a year. Tooth washing is a necessary primary treatment for gingivitis and periodontitis.