Are you afraid to take a sip of your favourite cold drink? Or take a bite of your favourite flavour of ice cream and even a spoonful of hot chocolate? Then we are sorry to inform you that you might be suffering from tooth sensitivity.
And, if you feel severe pain caused by cold foods or hot beverages, then higher chances that you might have a problem rooted deep inside your gums.
There can be a very different sensitive tooth cause, and it varies from person to person. The most common problem these people face is any discomfort or pain, which may be chronic or temporary. But treatment is needed for both situations. Because when it’s one tooth, it can spread to all your remaining teeth too.
Although the causes are different, usually sensitive teeth are treated with significant changes in our oral hygiene routines. Here, in this article, besides the symptoms and causes, we will also discuss how to get relief from tooth sensitivity with some standard treatment procedures.
Tooth Sensitivity : How Do You Know?
People who tend to have sensitive teeth may go through several problems. The signs are sometimes lenient, or sometimes they can be very severe, causing tremendous pain and significant discomfort. You may also feel the pain at even the roots that are affected by the problem.
The most common triggered symptoms are:
- You get discomfort from consuming hot beverages or foods.
- Cold foods and beverages can cause the same discomfort.
- Pain or discomfort can be caused by cold air.
- You may also feel them for sweet foods, acidic foods, or beverages.
- When you go to routine dental cleanings, the used cold water can cause similar effects.
- You may feel severe while brushing or flossing your teeth.
- You may feel pain while using alcohol-based mouthwash.
Your symptoms may range from very mild to intense effects, and also, they may come and go from time to time for no actual reasons. Do you feel any of these signs regularly? You might be wondering what can be the tooth sensitivity cause for you?
Tooth Sensitivity Cause : Know Why It Might Be Happening To You ?
When you have a sensitive tooth, a specific regular activity like brushing can be painful. And it can be formed by a tooth cavity, crooked or cracked tooth, gum diseases, or a low filling.
If any of these is bothering you, then it’s time that you should schedule an immediate appointment with your dentist. A dental doctor can come up with several factors that can be the underlying cause behind your frequent toothaches. When your teeth are healthy, the enamel will protect the dentin layers, and when it’s not, and your gum is not in a proper condition, or your enamel is worn, that might cause you pain.
Some Proven Factors May Serve As The Leading Causes Of Tooth Sensitivity:
- Brushing your teeth too hard while using a bristled toothbrush can be why this can affect your enamel, causing your gums to recess or our enamel to wear down.
- Periodontal diseases that may affect our gum health can cause recessed gums and expose the dentin to sensitivity.
- There is a condition called Gingivitis that can cause inflamed and sore tissues in gums and which can also expose the roots of each tooth.
- Broken teeth, another reason for a bacterial infection to occur from plaque, also causes cavity and inflammation inside the pulps. Sometimes the conditions can be severe.
- Frequent and long term use of mouth rinses can be another reason behind the sensitive tooth. Acid containing mouthwashes can cause decay to your tooth, enhance dentin’s exposure, and severely damage the dentin layer.
- Some people may also experience a sensitive tooth after dental fooling sessions. Cavity irritates a tooth, which can be further affected by filling. But you do not have to worry because this may never last for a long time, and if it is still bothering you after months, you might need root canal treatment. Composite fillings can bring tooth sensitivity when you are chewing your food, but this also may be temporary.
- If you have gone through teeth whitening recently, it can also be another reason for your sensitive tooth. Because whitening products use harsh chemicals to remove the strains, and in this process, they can again wash out the enamels, which can be very harmful to your teeth. That is why companies are changing the ingredients in the whitening materials by reducing the acidity of the teeth bleaching reagents for good.
- Other causes can be GERD or gastro esophageal reflux, which can cause acids coming up from the stomach and may cause teeth to decay over time. Frequent vomiting can also cause acid for wearing down the enamel.
Diagnosis of the sensitive tooth is so crucial for your dental health. And if you are experiencing any of the symptoms we have mentioned earlier, you must make your dentist appointment as soon as possible. They can check your dental health and identify any potential problems like a cavity, loose fillings, recessed gums, or anything because that causes your teeth to be sensitive and painful.
How To Get Relief From Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity treatment can be done in several ways. It depends on your condition that what process your dentist would recommend for you. You may be facing severe pain or discomfort due to sensitive teeth, and there are possible treatments to rule out any of the causes.
- The use of desensitizing toothpaste is one of the necessary procedures for treating sensitivity. This toothpaste also can block out toothaches that are related to a sensitive tooth. And there is a wide range of products available in the market, look for what your dentist is recommending.
- Application of fluoride can also be considered as a testament method by your dentist. Fluoride is great for our teeth because it strengthens our teeth enamel and also lessens the pain. Your dentist might also prescribe home use of fluoride using customized trays for you.
- Bonding or Desensitizing can be another modern treatment method for dealing with sensitive teeth. Often, the exposed surfaces of tooth roots can be recovered using the bonding resin into the sensitive root surface levels. Although for doing that, local anesthesia might be needed for the patients.
- If you have lost your gum tissues inside your tooth roots, then there’s a possibility of taking gum tissue from elsewhere in your mouth and replacing that in the affected areas. A surgical gum graft can protect your roots and also cure sensitivity.
- If you have reached a position when you have to suffer from severe pain and not any other treatments have been useful, then a root canal might be the best option to go. It’ll treat the tooth’s soft core the dental pulp, and it’s a very successful technique to get rid of the sensitive tooth.
- There are also other natural remedies that you can apply for tooth sensitivity from recurring. You can use soft-bristled toothbrushes and even fluoride toothpaste daily. Avoid harsh scrubbing, and get rid of abrasive toothpaste. And again, make flossing a daily habit, and do not grind your teeth cause that might harm you further.
- It would be best if you also were alert while consuming acidic drinks or foods. Carbonated beverages, wines, and even citrus fruits can remove a little amount of enamel every time. You can also use straws to limit your teeth’ contact with acidic liquids. Also, there’s another thing you can do is to drink more water after consuming acidic liquids to maintain balance.
Treat Tooth Sensitivity As Soon As Possible
If your tooth sensitivity is causing you to have a life where it’s a challenge to eat, drink, and other things, you talk with your dentist. Different mouthwash and toothpaste are designed for you and available in the shops.
And even these are not working out for you, and you might need a more effective treatment procedure to solve the problem. If problems like cavities or potential root damage can cause more severe conditions, you might require immediate oral care treatment to prevent the complications ahead in the long run.
There are also fluoride treatments that can also be effective. Medicines can only work correctly when you are taking proper care of your oral health by developing healthy habits like brushing your teeth twice, flossing, and avoiding certain foods that may harm your dental health.
