Sensitive Teeth: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments

CLINICAL CONTENT WRITTEN & REVIEWED BY CLOVE CLINICAL TEAM

Last Modified: August 24, 2022

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It may even be biting and chewing becomes very painful if you have sensitive teeth. Do you get that sharp, temporary feeling in your teeth while you drink something which is scorching or iced hot or eat piping hot meals or cold desserts?

Then maybe you have sensitive teeth. We shall share with you the causes that cause this uneasiness, effective treatments and preventive measures for relief from this pesky problem while wearing a healthy and beautiful smile for a long time.

Causes of Sensitive Teeth

There are many causes for sensitive teeth. Knowing what these causes are will help enable the suspicion whenever the condition will rise, hence better control of the same. Some of the common causes include:

1. Loss of the enamel: This happens if you brush your teeth beyond your normal range, your grinds are too forceful, or you use consumables and liquids that will create acids in your diet. It leaves the tuber which is a porous inner tooth surface with microscopic tubers carrying the tubes to the central nerve of the teeth to be sensitive.
2. Gingival recession: Because of gingival recession, the roots of the teeth come under exposure which themselves are naturally not covered with enamel. Hence, dentin is exposed, which is sensitive to temperatures.
Caries or Dental decay: Cavities or tooth decay may be one cause for sensitivity. Because of caries, the inner layers of the tooth get irritated and hence induces sensitivity.

Treatment of sensitive teeth

There are several cures that can help against hypersensitivity. Here are some solutions that could prove very useful in most scenarios.

Desensitizing Toothpaste: There are certain desensitizing toothpastes containing chemicals developed to inhibit the perceptions by nerves created within the teeth. They are used on an everyday basis and serve effectively by reducing the sensitivity over time.
Fluoride treatments: If a person is in the dental office, that is an excellent time when fluoride treatments can be applied to harden the enamel and remove the sensitivity. Fluoride-rich toothpaste is another option for this purpose.
Tooth bonding or sealants: In very sensitive conditions, the dentist could advise tooth bonding or applying dental sealants over the exposed root surfaces to protect them from irritation by external stimuli.
Dental treatments: Possibly, the treatment course which ought to be undertaken by the dentist can be root canal therapy, dental crowns or gum grafts that take care of problems at their most basic level.

Sensitive Tooth Prevention

Correct oral hygiene along with a couple of lifestyle changes can get rid of sensitive teeth for good. The following prevention practices can be adopted:

Brush gently: A soft-bristled brush and smooth, corkscrew twists will help scrub the teeth. It is important not to brush too hard since this may begin to wear down the enamel.
Use a desensitizing toothpaste: Adding desensitizing toothpaste to your regimen oral hygiene helps inhibit sensitivity.
This is to reduce acidic foods and drinks: Orange juice and lemon, soda, and sports drinks are very acidic and slowly eat the enamel. Cut them from your diet as much as possible and wash your mouth out with water afterwards.
Mouth guard: If you are a person that grinds at night, then you can wear a customized mouth guard that will save your teeth from its possible breakage and enamel wear.
Dental checkup: Visit your dentist periodically so that they do professional cleaning and comprehensive examinations so that problems can be identified before turning into serious ones.

Conclusion

All of these require knowing some factors that cause tooth sensitivity, proper treatment, and preventive measures in handling the said problem. Now that you know probable causes, you can now know what remedies and preventive measures could be done with this article and to let you enjoy your favorite foods again without pain.

All these aspects can be nicely discussed with your dentist, discussing the cause and formulating an individualized treatment plan to suit your dental needs best. Treatment shall always follow proper care and prevention toward future sensitivity in you, too.