Teeth sensitivity mostly occurs when tooth enamel has worn away, exposing the nerve ending filled dentin in the root. It’s aggravated by cold, hot, or sugary foods and beverages.
Treatment for Sensitive Teeth
You can relieve sensitive teeth pain by:
- Using a desensitizing toothpaste: it contains potassium nitrate. This active ingredient blocks the exposed small tubules in the dentin. But this treatment may not work for everyone. Use consistently to see lasting results.
- Changing your brushing habits: change to a softer toothbrush and brush softly. If your bristles are too hard and you brush with crushing force, you can strip away enamel and worsen teeth sensitivity. Hard brushing is also the leading cause of exposed root, receding gum, and bone loss due to the damage to the protective cementum at the tooth root.
- Avoiding high-acid food and drinks: Steadily exposing the teeth to acidic foods like red wine, soft drinks, fruit juices, and citric fruits will aggravate the condition as they gradually dissolve your teeth enamel. It’s best you limit acidic foods, even if you don’t suffer teeth sensitivity. And when you indulge in them, wait for 20 minutes before brushing your teeth. Brushing earlier will damage your tooth enamel already weakened by acid exposure.
- Treating your gum recession: Teeth roots are buried deep inside gum tissue in a healthy mouth. However, gum disease and aggressive brushing could damage the gum and expose the roots which might deplete the cementum. Specialists can treat this worn down gumline with a tissue graft
- Consult your dentist: Your dentist might recommend a fluoride varnish or plastic resin if a desensitizing toothpaste didn’t work for you. These are barrier agents which are painted on the affected area to reduce sensitivity. However, these treatments do wear off with time and will have to be repeated for continued protection.
- Quit teeth grinding: Teeth grinding or bruxism mostly occurs at night, and you might not even be aware that you suffer from it. The habit destroys your enamel and could cause teeth sensitivity. Inexplicable jaw pain and frequent headaches are possible indicators of bruxism. Wear a well-fitted night guard to protect your teeth if you suffer from bruxism. Be conscious of your jaw if you tend to clench them during the day and remember to keep them relaxed.
