I’m concerned that the dental hygienist who cleaned my teeth last week may have ruined my gums. They were bleeding throughout the appointment. I mentioned it to the hygienist, and he said that I had a lot of calculus below the gumline, so he spent time removing it. It felt like he was cutting my gums. The appointment seemed rough, but the hygienist said it was uncomfortable because he had to remove deposits. What can I look out for if my gums are damaged? Thanks. Micah from Lansing, MI

Micah,

You mentioned that earlier hygienists spent only minutes cleaning your teeth. That’s troubling, because removing hardened calculus below the gumline takes 40 minutes to an hour. Shorter cleanings typically access the visible surfaces, leaving deeper buildup untouched.

If the buildup remained for months or years, your recent cleaning likely felt more painful and caused bleeding. That’s not unusual. When long-standing deposits are removed, the gums react by bleeding as inflammation subsides.

Can a Hygienist Cause Gum Damage During a Cleaning?

Hygienists can contribute to gum damage indirectly by failing to clean thoroughly. The resulting inflammation gradually breaks down the bone supporting your teeth, leading to periodontal disease.

• Chronic plaque and calculus keep the gums irritated.
• Persistent inflammation can cause bone loss over time.

Your recent hygienist likely helped reverse years of neglect by performing a thorough cleaning. She may have caused some temporary soreness while protecting your long-term oral health.

In rare cases, overly forceful cleaning could irritate otherwise healthy gums. If that occurred, the tissue would heal quickly without permanent damage.

Plano, Texas, female dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy sponsors this post.