Sensitive teeth can prevent adequate tooth brushing, cause you to avoid eating and drinking certain foods and beverages, and even cause pain when breathing cold air outside. Proper home care can get rid of some sensitivity. However, some sensitive teeth require more complex dental procedures. Learning some common causes, preventive steps to take, and possible dental solutions can help you effectively manage hypersensitive teeth.
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What Is A Sensitive Tooth?
In the center of each tooth lies the dental pulp or tooth nerve. Covering the pulp is the tooth’s dentin which is a hard tooth structure. The dentin contains millions of microscopic tubes that connect to the underlying nerve. Because of these tubes, dentin is extremely sensitive to hot and cold food, beverages, and air.
Fortunately, enamel protects the dentin on the crowns of teeth and cementum on their roots. Enamel and cementum are denser and insulate the dentin and pulp from hot and cold sensitivity. Mild, moderate, or severe sensitivity can result when damage occurs to the enamel or cementum, which exposes the underlying dentin.
Not every sensitive tooth causes a dental emergency, but it’s still best to contact your dentist for an evaluation.
Causes Of Sensitive Teeth
There are many reasons that one or more teeth become sensitive. The common causes include:
Tooth Decay
A slight sensitivity to cold food, drinks, or air can warn you that a small cavity has formed on a tooth. The decay damages the enamel and eventually reaches the dentin, which makes the tooth sensitive. It’s important to treat a small cavity early because once the cavity reaches the dentin, it can move quickly to the nerve of the tooth, which creates a root canal problem.
Chipped or Cracked Tooth
If you chip your tooth so that it exposes the tooth’s dentin or pulp, you can expect sensitivity. A tooth can have a hairline crack, not visible without professional dental magnification, which can cause temperature and chewing sensitivity.
Receding Gums
Brushing your teeth too forcefully, especially with a hard-bristled toothbrush and a horizontal brushing motion, can harm the gums and expose the roots of your teeth. Once this happens, you can easily brush the cementum off the root surface and expose the dentin on your roots, making a tooth hypersensitive.
Other causes of gum recession include periodontal disease, crooked teeth, hormonal changes, and genetics.
Defective Dental Filling
If a filling cracks or falls out, the exposed dentin can cause sensitivity. This commonly occurs when decay recurs under a filling.
Recent Dental Procedure
A new dental filling or dental crown can remain sensitive for several days. Temporary sensitivity is normal, but if you have persistent or severe pain, contact Trident General Dentistry for an evaluation.
Acidic Foods
Eating too many acidic foods such as citrus fruits can erode tooth enamel and cause sensitivity. The American Dental Association recommends waiting one hour before brushing your teeth after eating acidic foods.
Teeth Grinding
Grinding teeth and clenching your teeth can wear down enamel and cause cracks in your teeth, resulting in hypersensitivity.
Preventing Teeth Sensitivity
The key to preventing tooth sensitivity is maintaining healthy teeth and gums with proper oral hygiene, which includes:
· Brushing your teeth twice daily for at least two minutes.
· Using a toothbrush with soft, round-ended bristles.
· Brush gently using a circular motion.
· Replace your toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if the bristles appear damaged or worn.
· Clean between your teeth with floss and other interdental cleaners recommended by your dentist.
· Have dental checkups and professional teeth cleanings every six months.
Other steps you can take to protect the enamel on your teeth include:
· Eat a healthy diet that is low acidic and low sugar.
· Avoid soda and sticky candy.
· Drink plenty of clean water to prevent dehydration which promotes enamel damage.
· Wear a mouth guard if you clench or grind your teeth.
· Take a break from teeth whitening products.
Treating Teeth Sensitivity
Trident General Dentistry can treat your sensitivity using the best option after evaluating the cause of your sensitive teeth. These options include:
· Recommending a desensitizing toothpaste
· Applying a fluoride gel
· Replacing a defective dental filling
· Placing a crown or filling over exposed dentin
· Gum graft to protect exposed root surfaces
· A root canal treatment to remove the dental pulp
Schedule an Appointment with Trident General Dentistry
We hope these common causes and solutions to sensitive teeth assist you. Note that the first step in eliminating your sensitive teeth is to find out the cause. Contact Trident General Dentistry today for a comprehensive evaluation, accurate diagnosis, and effective treatment plan.