Anyone who has ever had a sensitive tooth knows how painful it can be. Those around you may perceive you as a whiner. You will, however, be unable to ignore the resulting tooth pain and cold sensitivity until it subsides.
It’s possible that particular food, such as ice cream, strikes your teeth incorrectly, causing them to chip. However, if this occurs on a regular basis, you may have sensitive teeth.
You and Tooth Sensitivity
Teeth that are sensitive to cold are also susceptible to hot foods and beverages. Teeth that are sensitive to temperature extremes, such as those found in hot or cold beverages, are more likely to be damaged. What can you do while you’re waiting for dental care?
The first step is to understand why your teeth are bothering you. You can select the best treatment for your teeth based on your unique circumstances.
Tooth Sensitivity Causes
Remember that when you have sensitive teeth, there is always a reason for the discomfort. Yes, cold beverages or acidic foods can be the “cause” of pain right away. There is a genuine problem with your oral health that needs to be addressed beneath the surface.
If you visit the dentist as soon as possible, you may be able to resolve the problem before it causes further damage. This means that the type of dental treatment you need will be determined by the cause of your teeth’ sensitivity.
How Do You Determine Whether or Not You Have Sensitive Teeth?
Individuals with sensitive teeth report shooting or sharp pain when drinking cold or hot beverages. It is not required to occur in a single location because it can occur in a variety of locations. The pain becomes more intense at times as if a knife has been stabbed into your brain. As a result, the phrase “brain freeze” came into use.
It’s not a pleasant experience.
If you have a tooth that is sensitive to cold or heat, a severe toothache can be excruciatingly painful. As a result, in order to avoid pain, you must first understand what is going on.
Common Sources of Sensitive Teeth
Your teeth have most likely deteriorated over time. When you brush your teeth, you are removing the enamel, which is the outer layer of your teeth. This is the layer of protection that surrounds your nerve endings.
When teeth decay, gums recede, and other factors occur, the enamel on the outer surface of the teeth begins to deteriorate. This layer already protects your teeth when they are healthy. However, as your teeth’s dentin deteriorates, the surface of your teeth begins to wear away. Your teeth will become more sensitive to heat and cold as a result.
Dentin is made up of small hollow tubes, or canals. Heat and cold are conducted into the tooth via these tiny tubes. Dentin loss causes teeth to become more sensitive, which makes them painful. What causes the dentin to start falling off?
A variety of factors, including the following, can cause your teeth to be sensitive to heat and cold.
- In the early stages of tooth decay
- A person who grinds their teeth (bruxism).
- Gum disease is an untreated condition.
- Gum infections can lead to receding gums and tooth loss.
- Your dental health will suffer if you use a toothbrush with stiff bristles or products that have not been approved by the American Dental Association.
- Ignoring the significance of avoiding acid-containing foods
- A tooth injury, such as a broken tooth
There are many potential causes of sensitive teeth, but these are the most common. It could also be due to the way you live your daily life. If you smoke and do not clean your teeth properly, you run the risk of developing sensitive dentin, gum disease, and tooth enamel loss.
Treating Tooth Sensitivity
When you first notice cold sensitivity or other sensations, you can try a few home remedies to see if they help.
To begin with, if you don’t already have one, buy a soft-bristled brush. Stop using whitening toothpaste and alcohol-based mouthwashes. These can be very abrasive and cause dental discomfort. If these changes do not work, look for evidence that you are grinding your teeth while sleeping.
This is bad for both the enamel and the jaw. You could get a headache, neck pain, or shoulder pain for no apparent reason.
If you suspect you are grinding your teeth, schedule an appointment with a dental professional right away. This could be due to stress, or you may require medical attention for sleeping problems. Enamel protectors, such as mouth guards, can be provided by the dentist’s office to help avoid additional damage.
In the meantime, your doctor can help you design a treatment plan for your tooth grinding, also known as bruxism. There is an underlying cause for your nighttime grinding and clenching, and if you do not discover it, the outcome could be dangerous.
Basic Sensitive Tooth Treatments
The type of dental work needed to heal a sensitive tooth depends on the source and severity of the disease.
Preventative actions are the initial step. Your dentist can work with you to improve your oral hygiene habits and prevent further damage. This starts with avoiding foods and beverages that are known to cause enamel loss, such as those high in acid and sugar.
Then, you can use desensitizing toothpaste, brush frequently, floss, and use mouthwash to keep your teeth and gum line healthy. However, if your gums continue to recede and you continue to be sensitive to cold and heat, it’s time to move on to the next stage.
The enamel protects your roots and keeps them from coming into contact with the nerve endings that produce sensitivity in your teeth. To reduce sensitivity, a fluoride gel may be advised. Consistent usage of this product builds tooth enamel and heals the damaged protective coating on your teeth. This can be done in-office during work hours or at home with the use of specialized products.
Root Canal Treatment
A sealant can be applied to relieve dental sensitivity caused by a cavity. A root canal, on the other hand, maybe required if your tooth has become sensitive to cold as a result of gum disease, your gums have receded, or your dental roots are visible.
This is a process that cleans out the infection in your teeth’s pulp. The dentist will place a dental crown to disguise the visible roots once the gum line and tooth are free of infection.
What Caused Your Teeth to Become Sensitive? We Can Help.
When your teeth are sensitive, a visit to the dentist is in order, whether you wish to prevent your gum line from receding or avoid missing teeth due to decay. Contact our office right away to learn how we can help you achieve or maintain excellent oral health.