A patient shows up at my office and the first question is: “why do I have sensitive teeth?”
In my Newhall dental office I see a number of patients with sensitive teeth that ranges from brushing incorrectly, minor injury to the gums or teeth all the way to decay or more.
It is always prudent to have your dentist check your teeth periodically. Sensitive teeth is the experience of pain or discomfort whenever something comes in contact with your teeth that has a worn out tooth enamel or exposed tooth root. The reason for pain is the exposure of the inner layer of the tooth called dentin which is protected by the enamel. This could be caused by a number of reasons.
What causes you to have a sensitive teeth?
- Brushing too hard or sideways stroke causes enamel to be damaged
- Damaged tooth enamel like cracked or chipped tooth
- Teeth grinding and clenching while sleeping
- Presence of receding gums which is the result of excessive and forceful tooth brushing.
- Presence of gum disease with exposed tooth roots
- Excessive consumption of acidic food and drinks
- Reaction of peroxide or baking soda on tooth roots during teeth whitening
- Long term use of mouthwashes that contain acids which could cause damage on tooth enamel.
- After the effect of dental procedures like cleaning, root canal, crown replacement can cause temporary sensitiveness on the tooth for about 4 to 6 weeks.
Have you heard about medicated fluoride specifically designed for this type of problems (by prescription). It is time to talk to your dentist because your problem may be easily corrected.
I can’t say this works for everybody but read these tips because it might help you… some of these can be really done at the convenience and comfort of your own home. Experiencing the pains of a sensitive teeth could be relieved by doing the following practices:
- Proper brushing of your tooth at least twice day
- Floss daily
- Use of soft bristled toothbrush gives less harm to your teeth and gums
- Use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth
- Avoiding eating or drinking highly acidic foods
- Use a mouth guard to avoid grinding and clenching of teeth at night
- Use a mouth rinse that has fluoride to help decrease sensitiveness.
If you are still experiencing these symptoms after following these tips on how to be relieve the pain, then it is time to have your teeth assessed by your family Dentist. Possible initial treatment might be an application of fluoride gel on the affected tooth. Only a dental visit can determine the cause of your tooth sensitivity.
Leave a Reply