Dealing with teeth sensitivity can affect your quality of life if left untreated. The severity of the sensitivity varies from one person to another. Others only feel it on a tooth or several teeth at a time. Others have it worse; they might feel it on all of their teeth.
Knowing the reason behind it can help you manage it.
Consulting a dental professional is the best thing you can do to know if you have to undergo a procedure or only change a few things about your oral hygiene practices. If you’re wondering what causes sensitive teeth, read on.
What Causes Sensitive Teeth?
Knowing the root cause of the problem is the best way to find the solution to solve it. When your teeth’s enamel is thin, your teeth are more prone to be sensitive. The enamel serves as the shield of your teeth.
Here are a few things that can damage the enamel:
- Using a toothbrush with stiff bristles.
- Grinding your teeth while asleep or bruxism.
- Brushing your teeth too hard.
- Consuming foods and drinks rich in acid.
There are also health conditions that can damage the enamel on your teeth, including the following:
- Bulimia
- Gastroparesis
- Gastroesophageal reflux
- Gum recession
In these cases, you are likely to feel tooth sensitivity in one particular area only:
- Chipped teeth
- Tooth decay
- Broken teeth
You may experience temporary teeth sensitivity if you undergo some dental procedures like:
- Teeth bleaching
- Dental fillings
- Dental crowns
What Can You Do to Manage Sensitive Teeth?
- Don’t forget to brush your teeth twice a day.
- Always floss to remove any food particles caught in between the teeth.
- Use a toothbrush with soft bristles.
- Use toothpaste suitable for teeth sensitivity.
- Be gentle when brushing your teeth. Note that it doesn’t take much force or effort to clean the teeth.
How to Get Rid of Sensitive Teeth?
If you can no longer tolerate the pain and discomfort that your sensitive teeth are causing, consulting a qualified dentist is the way to go. Once a proper dental examination is complete, your dentist will recommend one of the following course of treatments:
- Adjust your diet: If you’re someone who loves snacking on acidic foods, it might be time that you slow down a little bit or avoid them altogether. Foods rich in acid can wear down the enamel of your teeth.
- Fluoride: Your dentist might recommend this to strengthen the enamel of your teeth to minimize teeth sensitivity. You can either have an in-office fluoride treatment or do this at home with a custom tray filled with fluoride. A dentist can also prescribe fluoride.
- Desensitizing toothpaste: This is another sensitive teeth treatment at home. When you use this, you can expect that it will minimize the pain. Choosing the best toothpaste for sensitive teeth can be overwhelming because there are many options available in the market. You can ask your dentist for recommendations.
- Wearing a mouth guard: One of the reasons for the thinning of enamel is grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw. Wearing a mouth guard while you’re sleeping can be the solution for you. Consult with your dentist to know if you’re a candidate for it.
- Surgical gum graft: If there’s not enough gum tissue on one area of your mouth, the gum tissue is taken from other sites to protect any exposed roots. Grafting can help reduce teeth sensitivity.
- Tooth bonding: With this procedure, a local anesthetic might be used so you won’t feel any discomfort. When there are root surfaces exposed, a tooth bonding resin is placed to fix them.
- Root canal: This might be the final resort if all the other dental treatments are not effective in treating your sensitive teeth. With this one, your dentist will have to work on the dental pulp to relieve teeth sensitivity.
It can be exasperating if sensitive teeth always get in the way. However, there are ways you can combat it. Seeing a trusted dentist can help you with that. You’ll surely enjoy your favorite cold and hot foods in no time!
At Advanced Dental Group, we take pride in having connections to the best dentists in your area. If you need to book an appointment with one of the top-notch dentists, we will connect you to them. What are you waiting for? Contact us and have those sensitive teeth taken care of!
