Sensitive Teeth—How Can Your Dentist Help?
Do you suffer from excessive tooth sensitivity? If you do, read on to find out what causes this hypersensitivity, and what action you and your dentist can take to relieve it.
What causes sensitive teeth?
Beneath the tough enamel that coats the surface of your teeth lie microscopic tubes. If your tooth enamel becomes worn down or cracked, or your gums recede due to disease, the little tubes are exposed. The cells within the tubes become very sensitive, and are easily stimulated by contact with cold or heat as you eat, or sometimes just by the air as you breathe. It's this exposure that causes sensitivity and pain.
How can you manage sensitive teeth?
The first thing to try is changing your brand of toothpaste. Whitening toothpastes and those designed for smokers can be very abrasive, and this will actually make your sensitivity worse. Choose a brand of toothpaste that is specifically designed for people with sensitive teeth; ask your dentist for a recommendation if you're not sure which to choose.
You'll find that you need to use this special toothpaste for at least a month before you feel any real benefit. It is possible to hasten the beneficial effect by massaging some of the product into your gums with your finger after you've brushed your teeth. This helps to coat the sensitive area beneath your gum line thoroughly so that the desensitising effects will be felt more quickly.
Take a close look at your toothbrush. If you see flattened bristles pointing in different directions, you are using too much pressure when brushing. Brushing too vigorously or using a hard-bristled brush can cause damage to the surface of the tooth root which will readily increase sensitivity. Swap to a softer brush, and modify your brushing technique so that it isn't so harsh on your teeth.
Avoid eating acidic foods like fresh citrus fruits, and soft drinks with high sugar content which can damage enamel, and expose the sensitive tissue beneath.
When should you see a dentist?
If one or more of your teeth become extremely sensitive to hot and cold for more than a few days, the best course of action to take is to ask your dentist's advice. If the problem is only affecting one tooth, it could be that you have a cavity or even an abscess.
If your dentist diagnoses you with sensitive teeth, there are a number of different treatment options available to you. It's possible to have a desensitising product or protective coating applied to your teeth by the dentist as part of a routine appointment. You will also be given some products that you can use at home.
In the event that your sensitivity is very severe and cannot be successfully treated using non-invasive methods, the dentist will probably recommend that you have root canal treatment. This will remove the nerve from the affected tooth and with it the sensitivity and pain.
Sensitive teeth can be extremely painful. Treatment is available so don't suffer in silence; make an appointment with a local clinic like Shellharbour City Dental to discuss the best options available for you.
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