A lot of people throughout the world suffer from sensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth can be a huge problem, and one which usually can’t be solved without significant intervention from a skilled dentist. If you suffer from sensitive teeth, things as small as a gust of cold air or a sip of coffee can make your mouth hurt.
There are a number of reasons why you may h ave sensitive teeth. You may have tooth or nerve damage, or you may simply be genetically predisposed to be unable to handle very hot or very cold things. Either way, overly sensitive teeth can be a pain (literally!), and they can prevent you from enjoying food the way you want to.
What Makes My Teeth Sensitive?
There are a number of things which could be making your teeth sensitive. However, the most common cause of sensitivity is the wearing down of the protective enamel coating on your teeth. Once the enamel is gone, tiny tubes in the tooth dentin are exposed to the outside. Since these tubes contain nerve endings, their exposure immediately makes your teeth more sensitive.
The cause of enamel loss could be one of any number of things. The most common things that cause enamel to wear away include:
- Excessive acidic foods or drinks, such as soft drinks.
- Acid reflux.
- Brushing too hard or too often, or not brushing at all.
- Grinding your teeth.
If you suffer from sensitive teeth and have at least one of the above applying to you, then you may need to consider changing your behaviour.
How Can I Reduce The Pain?
If you are sick of tooth pain whenever you eat something that is hot or cold, then you need to take action to try and reduce your sensitivity. Although it can be hard to regenerate lost enamel, you can do some things, including:
- Choosing a decent toothpaste which won’t contribute to sensitivity. Look for one which is free of sodium pyrophosphate and which contains a desensitizing paste.
- Use a soft toothbrush and don’t brush too vigorously.
- Avoid acidic foods and drinks like soft drinks and fruit juices.
Even simple actions like the ones above can help your teeth become less sensitive.
Can My Dentist Help?
There are a number of ways that you dentist can help you if you have sensitive teeth. Depending on your situation and on the condition of your teeth, your dentist may decide to use some sort of sealant or desensitizing agent to reduce the amount of nerve endings that are exposed. In bad cases, root canals may be necessary. If you have overly sensitive teeth that bother you when you eat or drink, your best option is to speak with your dentist.