{"id":3666,"date":"2026-05-19T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/?p=3666"},"modified":"2026-09-02T16:38:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T16:38:53","slug":"should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I Talk to My Hygienist During a Cleaning, and Other Questions About the Dentist You&#8217;re Too Embarrassed to Ask"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">Every Dental Patient Has Questions They&#8217;ve Never Gotten Around to Asking<\/h2>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3571 alignright\" title=\"Closeup,Shot,,Cute,Young,Woman,With,Dental,Braces,Smiling,While\" src=\"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/shutterstock_2451918805.jpg\" alt=\"woman with braces getting a checkup at the dentist\" width=\"350\" height=\"233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/shutterstock_2451918805.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/shutterstock_2451918805-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/shutterstock_2451918805-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>If you&#8217;ve ever sat in a dental chair wondering whether you&#8217;re doing something wrong, saying the wrong thing, or being silently judged &#8212; you&#8217;re not alone. A lot of people carry small, unspoken questions about dental visits that they&#8217;ve never gotten around to asking. This blog is for those questions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">At Rubino Periodontics &amp; Implant Dentistry, we hear versions of these questions more often than you might think. We&#8217;d rather you ask them than sit through an appointment feeling uncertain. Our <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/about\/the-practice\/periodontists-in-bradenton-fl\/\">Bradenton periodontal office<\/a>, <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/about\/the-practice\/periodontists-in-lakewood-ranch-sarasota-fl\/\">Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota location<\/a>, and <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/about\/the-practice\/periodontists-in-parrish-fl\/\">Parrish periodontal practice<\/a> are all here to answer your questions &#8212; big, small, or embarrassing. If you&#8217;ve been putting off care and aren&#8217;t sure where to start, request an appointment online or call us.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">No Question Is Too Embarrassing &#8212; Here&#8217;s Why We Mean That<\/h2>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">Dental teams see every kind of mouth, every level of anxiety, and every gap in dental care imaginable. The person in the chair before you may not have been to a dentist in 15 years. The person after you might be terrified of the suction tool. Dental professionals are not keeping score, and they are not quietly judging your teeth. What they are doing is trying to help you. Asking questions &#8212; even awkward ones &#8212; makes that easier.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">Should I Talk to My Hygienist During a Cleaning?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3265 alignright\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shutterstock_583030357-600x400-1.jpg\" alt=\"routine dental checkup\" width=\"350\" height=\"233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shutterstock_583030357-600x400-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/shutterstock_583030357-600x400-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/>This is genuinely one of the most common things people wonder, and almost nobody asks out loud. The short answer: your hygienist does not expect conversation, but they don&#8217;t mind it either. Most hygienists are used to asking yes-or-no questions that patients can answer with a nod or a thumbs-up. Some hygienists may keep a steady stream of conversation going to try to put you at ease.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">If you feel like chatting when the tools are out of your mouth, that&#8217;s fine. If you&#8217;d rather zone out with headphones in, that&#8217;s fine too. You will not seem rude for staying quiet during your teeth cleaning.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">Is It Normal Not to Have Been to the Dentist in Years?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">More common than you think. Life, cost, anxiety, and access all get in the way, and many adults go a decade or more between dental visits. When patients come back after a long gap, the goal is not to lecture them. The goal is to figure out where things stand and build a plan forward. If you are embarrassed about the length of your absence, you can say so. Most dental teams will appreciate your honesty and meet you with understanding, not judgment.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">Will My Dentist Judge Me for My Teeth?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">There is a real and <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC12922240\/\">well-documented stigma around dental health<\/a>, and many people delay care specifically because they fear being made to feel bad about their teeth. People are anxious about how often they floss, or have never been taught an ideal flossing method. They may avoid care because they&#8217;re worried about having to lie to the dentist when they ask about their oral hygiene routine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">Poor dental health has many causes beyond hygiene &#8212; genetics, access to care, mental health, medications, and economics all play a role. A good dental provider understands this. If you ever feel judged by a dental provider, that&#8217;s information worth acting on: you deserve a practice that treats you with respect.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">Does Dental Treatment Hurt More If You Haven&#8217;t Been in a While?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">Cleanings can be more involved after a long gap, and there may be more sensitivity if tartar buildup has accumulated near the gumline. But &#8220;more involved&#8221; doesn&#8217;t have to mean painful. Tell your hygienist if you have sensitivity or anxiety about discomfort. They can adjust their approach, take more breaks, and in some cases, a topical numbing gel can help. You are always allowed to ask for accommodations. Patients who experience significant dental anxiety may also want to ask about <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/services\/general-specialty-care\/sedation-dentistry\/\">sedation dentistry<\/a> options.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">Can I Ask My Dentist to Slow Down or Stop?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">Absolutely, and any good dentist will tell you the same. Establishing a stop signal &#8212; a raised hand, for example &#8212; before the appointment even starts gives you a sense of control that many anxious patients find genuinely calming. You are not being difficult by asking for a pause. You are communicating, which is exactly what your dental team wants.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">A Few More Questions Patients Are Afraid to Ask<\/h2>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3187 alignright\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1720385767.jpg\" alt=\"dental anxiety, patient nervous at dentist\" width=\"349\" height=\"248\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1720385767.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1720385767-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/shutterstock_1720385767-768x546.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 349px) 100vw, 349px\" \/>&#8220;Is this normal?&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">Yes, ask it. Always. About sensitivity, about a rough spot on a tooth, about a small hole you noticed, about anything. Describing a symptom in your own words, even if it sounds odd, helps your dentist more than staying quiet does.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><em>&#8220;Why do I keep getting cavities even though I brush?&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">Genetics, dry mouth, diet, and enamel quality all factor in. It may not be about effort.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"><em>&#8220;Can I bring headphones?&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">In most offices, yes. Ask ahead of time if you think it would help.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text-text-100 mt-3 -mb-1 text-[1.125rem] font-bold\">Don&#8217;t Put Off Dental Care Because You&#8217;re Nervous<\/h2>\n<p class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\">If you have been putting off a visit because of anxiety or embarrassment, Rubino Periodontics &amp; Implant Dentistry is here to help. Our team takes your comfort seriously at every location &#8212; Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch\/Sarasota, and Parrish. <a class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/contact\/\">Reach out to schedule your appointment<\/a> today. Call our Bradenton office at <strong>941-209-5052<\/strong>, our Sarasota\/Lakewood Ranch office at <strong>941-201-3055<\/strong>, or our Parrish office at <strong>813-331-5845<\/strong>. We&#8217;re here to answer any questions you may have and make your visit as comfortable as possible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every Dental Patient Has Questions They&#8217;ve Never Gotten Around to Asking If you&#8217;ve ever sat in a dental chair wondering whether you&#8217;re doing something wrong, saying the wrong thing, or being silently judged &#8212; you&#8217;re not alone. A lot of people carry small, unspoken questions about dental visits that they&#8217;ve never gotten around to asking. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3667,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3666","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Questions About the Dentist You&#039;re Too Embarrassed to Ask | Dr. Rubino<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Nervous about the dentist? Rubino Periodontics in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch &amp; Parrish answers the questions patients are too embarrassed to ask.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Questions About the Dentist You&#039;re Too Embarrassed to Ask | Dr. Rubino\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Nervous about the dentist? Rubino Periodontics in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch &amp; Parrish answers the questions patients are too embarrassed to ask.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Rubino Periodontics &amp; Implant Dentistry\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-19T19:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-02T16:38:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/5-20.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"512\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"217\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Thomas G. Rubino D.D.S.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Thomas G. Rubino D.D.S.\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Thomas G. Rubino D.D.S.\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/41c13702a45c8899644c8fd04f3f4a42\"},\"headline\":\"Should I Talk to My Hygienist During a Cleaning, and Other Questions About the Dentist You&#8217;re Too Embarrassed to Ask\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-19T19:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-02T16:38:53+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":953,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/5-20.jpg\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\\\/\",\"name\":\"Questions About the Dentist You're Too Embarrassed to Ask | Dr. Rubino\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/5-20.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-19T19:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-09-02T16:38:53+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/41c13702a45c8899644c8fd04f3f4a42\"},\"description\":\"Nervous about the dentist? Rubino Periodontics in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch & Parrish answers the questions patients are too embarrassed to ask.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/5-20.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/5-20.jpg\",\"width\":512,\"height\":217,\"caption\":\"5 20.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Should I Talk to My Hygienist During a Cleaning, and Other Questions About the Dentist You&#8217;re Too Embarrassed to Ask\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Rubino Periodontics & Implant Dentistry\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/41c13702a45c8899644c8fd04f3f4a42\",\"name\":\"Thomas G. Rubino D.D.S.\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e9687168da6d551d74596d8977ba68fbf65958a0fafdcf45cf80c60fad291a40?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e9687168da6d551d74596d8977ba68fbf65958a0fafdcf45cf80c60fad291a40?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e9687168da6d551d74596d8977ba68fbf65958a0fafdcf45cf80c60fad291a40?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Thomas G. Rubino D.D.S.\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/bradentonperio.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/topauth\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Questions About the Dentist You're Too Embarrassed to Ask | Dr. Rubino","description":"Nervous about the dentist? Rubino Periodontics in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch & Parrish answers the questions patients are too embarrassed to ask.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Questions About the Dentist You're Too Embarrassed to Ask | Dr. Rubino","og_description":"Nervous about the dentist? Rubino Periodontics in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch & Parrish answers the questions patients are too embarrassed to ask.","og_url":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/","og_site_name":"Rubino Periodontics &amp; Implant Dentistry","article_published_time":"2026-05-19T19:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-09-02T16:38:53+00:00","og_image":[{"width":512,"height":217,"url":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/5-20.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Thomas G. Rubino D.D.S.","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Thomas G. Rubino D.D.S.","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/"},"author":{"name":"Thomas G. Rubino D.D.S.","@id":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/41c13702a45c8899644c8fd04f3f4a42"},"headline":"Should I Talk to My Hygienist During a Cleaning, and Other Questions About the Dentist You&#8217;re Too Embarrassed to Ask","datePublished":"2026-05-19T19:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-02T16:38:53+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/"},"wordCount":953,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/5-20.jpg","inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/","url":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/","name":"Questions About the Dentist You're Too Embarrassed to Ask | Dr. Rubino","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/5-20.jpg","datePublished":"2026-05-19T19:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-09-02T16:38:53+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/41c13702a45c8899644c8fd04f3f4a42"},"description":"Nervous about the dentist? Rubino Periodontics in Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch & Parrish answers the questions patients are too embarrassed to ask.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/5-20.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/5-20.jpg","width":512,"height":217,"caption":"5 20.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/should-i-talk-to-my-hygienist-during-a-cleaning-and-other-questions-about-the-dentist-youre-too-embarrassed-to-ask\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Should I Talk to My Hygienist During a Cleaning, and Other Questions About the Dentist You&#8217;re Too Embarrassed to Ask"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/","name":"Rubino Periodontics & Implant Dentistry","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/41c13702a45c8899644c8fd04f3f4a42","name":"Thomas G. Rubino D.D.S.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e9687168da6d551d74596d8977ba68fbf65958a0fafdcf45cf80c60fad291a40?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e9687168da6d551d74596d8977ba68fbf65958a0fafdcf45cf80c60fad291a40?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e9687168da6d551d74596d8977ba68fbf65958a0fafdcf45cf80c60fad291a40?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Thomas G. Rubino D.D.S."},"url":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/author\/topauth\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3666","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3666"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3666\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3755,"href":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3666\/revisions\/3755"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3667"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3666"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3666"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bradentonperio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3666"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}