If you’ve felt pain or discomfort in your teeth from drinking a hot or cold drink you’re not alone. While this could be due to several reasons, such as a cavity, one of the conditions why this would occur is tooth sensitivity. Also called dentin hypersensitivity, it is pain or discomfort in your teeth as a response to certain stimuli, such as hot or cold temperatures.
This could be a temporary or permanent problem and it could affect one tooth, several teeth or all teeth. There are several causes of tooth sensitivity as well as several symptoms of sensitive teeth. In this article, we’ll talk at length about sensitive teeth…
Tooth Sensitivity Causes
There are several causes of tooth sensitivity and some of them are:
- Tooth enamel that has worn away: Your tooth enamel is that hard, protective layer and helps your teeth deal with everything that you put them through. If your tooth enamel has worn away, your nerve endings are exposed. This results in pain. So, if you have sensitive teeth, it’s possible that your enamel has worn away.
- Brushing too hard: If you clean your teeth with a heavy hand, you may be taking off more than just plaque. Sideways brushing at the gum line can wear away your teeth enamel. To prevent this from happening, you should use a soft-bristled brush and work at a 45-degree angle to your gum line to keep your enamel clean and strong.
- Acidic foods and drinks: Certain foods and drinks, such as soda, sticky candy, and high-sugar carbs all attack enamel. Instead, you can eat fibre-rich fruits and vegetables, cheese, milk, and yoghurt. These foods can help moisten your mouth and can also help fight acid and bacteria. The latter can eat away at your enamel. You can also drink chew sugarless gum and drink black or green tea. If you do eat something acidic, do not brush straight away but wait for a while to strengthen before you scrub.
- Clenching your teeth: Constant grinding of your teeth can also wear away tooth enamel. The quickest and easiest way to stop teeth grinding or bruxism is by addressing the source of your stress. If this does not work, your dentist can fix you up with a mouth guard or a splint. If the problem is severe you may need to visit your dentist regularly to change the position of your teeth. You could also need a muscle relaxant.
- Bleaching your teeth: Regular bleaching of your teeth can cause you pain. However, sensitivity from bleaching is usually temporary. However, if it continues, you should talk to your dentist as to whether and how the treatment may be affecting you and whether you should continue with the treatment.
- Naturally shrinking gums: If you are over 40, your gums could be showing some signs of wear and tear. They could be pulling away from your teeth, thereby exposing your teeth roots. These roots are much more sensitive than the rest of your teeth as they do not have enamel to protect them. You should certainly consult your dentist if you have shrinking gums, as they could be a sign of something more serious. You may even need a gum graft, which moves tissue from somewhere else to cover the bare area.
- Gum disease: The build-up of tartar and plaque on and between your teeth can pull your gums back. It can also result in disease and destroy the bony support of your teeth. If you suffer from gum disease you should visit your dentist, who will do a deep clean of your teeth called scaling or planning. This scrapes off tartar and plaque from beneath the gum line. You could also need medication or surgery to fix gum disease.
- A cracked tooth or filling: If you break a tooth, the crack can go all the way down to your root. You will realize that this has happened when you eat or drink something hot or cold and there is a pain in that tooth. You should certainly visit your dentist, who will fix the crack depending on how deep it goes. If it is a small crack, your dentist will likely fill it in. If it is a crack below the gum line, your tooth may have to be pulled.
Symptoms of Sensitive Teeth
There are several symptoms that can accompany tooth sensitivity. Some of them are:
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Changes in taste
- Pus or discharge
- Receding gums
- Redness and swelling of the gums
Teeth Sensitivity Treatment
Some of the different treatments for tooth sensitivity are:
- Toothpaste for sensitive teeth
- Fluoride gel
- Fillings that cover exposed roots
- Desensitizing pastes (you can get this from your dentist)
- Sealants
- Mouthguard (if you grind your teeth)
- Root canal
If you suffer from tooth sensitivity, you need to consult the right dentist. You can find one at Vistadent, the Orthodontic Speciality Clinic. At Vistadent, we will take your detailed dental and medical history during the very first consult, as we believe in treating our patients holistically and not just as another case.
We use the best and most hygienic techniques and instruments to clean and treat your teeth. Your dentist at Vistadent will be your partner right through your teeth sensitivity treatment and will not only prescribe the treatment that is right for you but will also ensure that you go through the least pain and discomfort possible. So, if you have sensitive teeth and you need the best treatment for sensitive teeth, you know where to go…Vistadent!
For more information about sensitive teeth or any other dental procedures, as well as other dental problems, contact Vistadent, the Orthodontic Speciality Clinic, at 040-23388111 or +91 9866572482 or at info@vistadent.net or visit our website at http://vistadent.net/.