Did you know that if you experience pain or discomfort when consuming foods or beverages that are hot, cold, sweet, or sour; when brushing or flossing; or even when breathing sharp, cold air, you may have sensitive teeth? But don't worry, you don’t have to put up with the pain because there are actually 'things' you can do to lessen tooth sensitivity and improve your oral health.
Sensitive teeth are typically the result of worn tooth enamel or exposed tooth roots. Sometimes, however, tooth discomfort is caused by other factors such as cavity, cracked or chipped tooth, a recently placed filling or it also might be a side effect of previous dental procedures such as teeth bleaching. When you have sensitive teeth, certain activities like brushing, flossing, eating and also drinking can cause a sharp, temporary pain in your teeth.
Common causes of sensitive teeth:
- You're over - brushing your teeth! Brushing your teeth too hard may wear down enamel or irritate the gum line, causing it to recede and expose the tooth’s sensitive roots. Sometimes tooth sensitivity also comes from brushing with too much force or using a hard - bristled toothbrush.
- Acidic food. If the pathways to your nerves are exposed, acidic foods such as tomato sauce, lemons and pickles can easily cause pain to your teeth.
- You have a cracked tooth. A crack or chip tooth may expose the underlying dentin or may fill with bacteria from plaque, causing the nerve to inflame and eventually will cause pain that goes beyond tooth sensitivity.
- The teeth-grinder. Over time, grinding or clenching your teeth can erode your enamel and by doing so, you will expose your dentin, which contains the hollow tubes that lead to your nerves.
- Gum disease. Gum disease leads to tooth decay which breaks down enamel and they can also lead to infection which may attack the tooth’s roots or cause the gum line to recede.
- Teeth whitening products. Using products with peroxide or baking soda can seriously aggravate exposed roots or dentin.
- You’re a mouthwash junkie! Like whitening toothpaste, some over-the-counter mouthwashes and rinses contain alcohol and other chemicals that can make your teeth more sensitive.
- Excessive plaque. An excessive buildup of plaque can cause tooth enamel to wear away. Again, your teeth can become more sensitive as they lose protection provided by the enamel.
- Previous dental procedure. But dont worry as it’s common to experience some sensitivity after a root canal, an extraction, or even after the placement of a crown. However, if symptoms don’t disappear after a short time, you should schedule another visit to your dentist, as it could be a sign of infection.
How to avoid teeth sensitivity?
- Using a desensitizing toothpaste. Having your dentist apply sealants and other desensitizing and filling materials, including fluoride and you can also try a desensitizing toothpaste which contains chemicals that will block sensations like hot and cold from reaching the nerves in your teeth.
- Avoid using hard-bristled toothbrushes and brushing your teeth too hard. They can wear down the tooth's surface and expose sensitive spots. One way to find out if you're brushing your teeth too hard is to take a good look at your toothbrush. If the bristles are pointing in multiple directions, you're brushing too hard.
- Switch to a fluoride mouthwash. Your dentist might apply fluoride to the sensitive areas of your teeth to strengthen tooth enamel and reduce pain.
- Avoid acidic foods such as tea, tomatoes, and citrus fruits. You might also want to consider limiting acidic foods and drinks, such as carbonated drinks, citrus fruits, all of which can remove small amounts of tooth enamel over time.
- Avoid brushing your teeth immediately after eating or drinking acidic substances. Acid softens enamel and makes it more vulnerable to erosion during brushing.
- Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing twice every day and flossing once daily. Twice a day, brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Floss daily. Avoid vigorous or harsh scrubbing, highly abrasive toothpaste, and excessive brushing and flossing. If you grind your teeth, ask your dentist about a mouth guard as tooth grinding can fracture teeth and cause sensitivity.
Tooth sensitivity is treatable and in fact, you might find that using toothpaste specifically made for sensitive teeth really helps. However, you still need to see your dentist for an evaluation if your sensitivity is extreme and persists no matter what steps you take because after all only an office visit can determine the exact cause of your tooth sensitivity and also the best solution visible for your particular situation.
