Escape the Pain of Sensitive TeethMarch 12, 2015
There’s nothing like waking up to a hot cup of coffee in the morning or relaxing with a frozen sweet treat in the hot summer months unless you have sensitive teeth, that is. If you have sharp, painful reactions to eating hot and/or cold foods, flossing, or even regular brushing, you could have may be experiencing sensitivity or a more serious underlying problem that we can help you with.
What Causes Sensitive Teeth?
Each of your teeth is comprised of several layers: a hard outer enamel layer that protects the tooth, the soft dentin, and the pulp, the inner soft tissue where blood vessels and nerve vessels reside. Generally, when damage or wear and tear to a tooth exposes the nerves, the tooth becomes sensitive. Sometimes more serious issues can be at fault:
- Worn enamel. Your teeth take a beating, day in and day out. Over time, brushing too hard, excessive commercial whitening treatments, soda, and even acidic foods and mouthwashes can wear away at our tooth enamel.
- Cavities. When a tooth is compromised due to decay, the nerves can become exposed.
- Cracked tooth. A cracked tooth, which exposes the underlying nerves, can be very painful especially when consuming hot or cold food and drinks.
- Worn fillings. Over time, fillings may become loose or damaged. As a result, the tooth’s underlying nerve can become exposed causing pain.
- Periodontal disease. A variety of factors and conditions can affect our overall gum health. Poor oral hygiene and lack of routine preventative care can certainly take a toll on your gums, but so can pregnancy, chronic illness such as cancer or diabetes, and ill-fitting oral appliances. Periodontal disease occurs when any number of these conditions cause a loss inflammation of the gums and loss of bone.
What Treatments Are Available?
Dr. Connie Jacobson and the staff at Jacobson Dental are ready to help you escape the pain of sensitive teeth. Through a comprehensive oral exam, we can quickly determine the cause of your tooth pain and recommend the appropriate course of treatment. Depending upon our expert diagnosis, treatment may include any of the following:
- Desensitizing toothpaste can sometimes reduce the pain of sensitive teeth when used over time.
- Fluoride treatments can be applied to strengthen the enamel and reduce pain.
- Crowns and veneers can fix more serious issues like a cracked tooth.
- Surgical gum grafts are an option if the roots of your teeth are exposed at the gum line causing pain.
- A root canal to treat problems in the dental pulp may be recommended.
We Treat You like Family
Does the very thought of a root canal make you quake? Would you rather be anywhere but the dentist chair? At Jacobson Dental, we care for you like a member of our own family. We take the stress out of dental work with our patient comforts like a CD library and iPads with streaming Netflix. We offer easy financing options to make your treatment financially worry free. If you are experiencing tooth pain or sensitivity, come visit our office for a professional diagnosis and treatment regimen to get you on the path to better oral health.