In our previous blog post, Dr. Aerni continued a discussion on tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity is caused by many things including injury and exposed root dentin. Exposed root dentin can be the result of many different things. These things include the following:
Poor brushing technique – Many people think that if they brush with more force, their teeth will be cleaner. However, the only things brushing with more force will do is wear down your tooth enamel and damage your teeth. Unfortunately, wearing down your tooth enamel can cause both sensitivity and an increase in cavities.
Receding gums – If you do not take good care of your teeth and gum disease begins to develop, your gums may start to recede. As your gums recede, the inner part of your tooth that your gums used to cover will become exposed. Most of the time gum recession is a result of poor dental hygiene practices.
Bruxism – If you grind your teeth, either during the day or while you sleep, you will slowly but surely wear your tooth enamel down. After a while, your tooth enamel will be completely worn away and your dentin will become exposed. Bruxism can be characterized by your teeth aching, jaw pain, and frequent headaches.
Health issues – Diseases like acid reflux (GERD) will cause acid to build up in your mouth and eat away at tooth enamel. Along with certain health issues, citrus fruits will cause additional acids to be introduced into your mouth. Brushing your teeth after eating citrus fruits is important. However, you need to wait about 30 minutes before you brush so you do not damage your teeth.
Remember: Your teeth can become sensitive for a variety of reasons. The best way to treat tooth sensitivity is to determine what is causing it. The best way to determine any dental health problems is to maintain routine dental appointments.