Tooth Sensitivity

Sensitive teeth can dampen your day. When you have sensitive teeth, everyday activities such as eating, drinking, and chewing can cause sharp pain in your teeth. Though this pain is temporary and usually goes away after a few seconds, it is no fun! So whenever you recognize pain in your teeth, even sensitivity, it is crucial to have your teeth checked out by a dentist. Keep reading to find out some of the causes of sensitive teeth and how you can treat your teeth to get them feeling better!

What Causes Sensitive Teeth?

Sensitive teeth are often a result of worn-down tooth enamel or exposed roots. For example, you may start experiencing sudden tooth sensitivity if a tooth cracks when you have a deep cavity, a worn-down filling, a chipped tooth, or gum disease. Occasionally, there can be more significant problems that need to be addressed promptly.

Many people explain tooth sensitivity as a sharp pain that occurs after drinking ice cold water, taking a bite of something relatively firm, or drinking something hot such as soup. However, sometimes other things like sweet foods, sour foods, and even air can aggravate sensitive teeth. 

How Can I Treat My Sensitive Teeth?

The best thing you can do when you are frequently experiencing tooth sensitivity is to make an appointment and see a dentist. A dentist can help you identify where your tooth sensitivity is coming from and what the best ways are to fix it. Depending on your specific situation, your dentist may recommend using sensitivity toothpaste, using fluoride, fixing a tooth filling, applying bonding resin, a root canal, or a surgical gum graft. In addition, to reduce the chances of tooth sensitivity in the future, it is a good idea to avoid acidic foods such as soda and sticky candy that can cause enamel to wear down and tooth pain to occur. 

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Sensitivity toothpaste can protect the dentin on your teeth, therefore helping to reduce sensitivity. Using fluoride can help strengthen the enamel on your teeth. Strengthening tooth enamel will help reduce sensitivity. Suppose you recently had a tooth filling and now are experiencing a sensitive tooth. In that case, your dentist may recommend re-doing the filling and adding medication to the filling that will help reduce sensitivity. Dental bonding can help with tooth sensitivity by sealing up nerve endings and protecting them from food and drinks that are painful to eat and drink. If you’ve tried a few simple things and nothing is fixing your tooth sensitivity, getting a root canal may be a good option for you. After having a root canal, the nerves to your sensitive tooth will be completely numb - relieving you of tooth pain. In addition to restoring good health to your gums, having a surgical gum graft will also help reduce any sensitivity and discomfort you had previously been feeling. 

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Don’t let any suggestions from your dentist for fixing tooth sensitivity scare you off. It may feel like a big deal to have another filing done, a root canal or a gum graft, but not taking care of your sensitivity issue will cause you more pain in the long run. The suggestions your dentist will give you regarding fixing sensitive teeth are all to keep up your oral health and help you feel better and more comfortable. So don’t continue to let tooth sensitivity rule your world! Contact your dentist and find a solution today.