Problems With Sensitive Teeth?
If you have sensitive teeth, you know the difficulty of eating something cold or hot. Ice cream, soup, coffee, and similar foods can cause extreme discomfort as you wince in pain. If you’ve been suffering from a sensitive tooth, you’re not alone. Tooth sensitivity affects nearly 60{3b0f9398becb40f4bdd8fe95c600d2c252c33730296b97da1b334948809cb5c4} of Americans. Visit your local dentist to identify the cause and learn about potential treatments.
Common Causes Of Tooth Sensitivity
When trying to identify the culprit of your sensitivity, you should take time to evaluate your entire oral hygiene regiment. Consider some of these common causes of tooth sensitivity.
• You’re Brushing Too Hard – If you brush too hard, or are using a toothbrush with hard bristles, you can wear down your tooth enamel. This will expose the nerves that cause sensitivity. Ensure you’re using a soft-bristled brush recommended by your Westlake Village, CA dentist. Brush in gentle circular motions.
• Your Diet is Too Acidic – Acidic foods can wear down enamel and increase sensitivity. Acidic foods don’t necessarily have to be foods that are bad for you, either. Unsuspecting foods like oranges and orange juice, lemons, kiwis, grapefruits, and tomato sauce can all increase sensitivity.
• You Use Whitening Products – If you use whitening toothpaste or at-home teeth whiteners, you could again be wearing down your enamel. You should use toothpaste that contains fluoride, which helps build and strengthen enamel.
• You Use Too Much Mouthwash – Mouthwash is a convenient way to freshen up, and many are successful at killing germs and bacteria. But be sure to check the ingredients in your mouthwash if you rinse frequently. Alcohol and other chemicals in mouthwash can increase sensitivity. Use more neutral, fluoride-based rinses that don’t contain these harmful ingredients.
• You Suffer from Gum Disease – Gum disease causes your gum line to recede, which exposes the roots of your teeth and can increase tooth sensitivity.
• A Tooth is Cracked – If you’ve chipped or cracked a tooth, you’ll likely expose the dentin that causes tooth sensitivity.
If you’ve been suffering from tooth sensitivity, your trusted local Westlake Village dentist can check for the underlying causes. Sometimes it may be difficult for you to identify the actual cause of the sensitivity. For example, gum disease may not be painful, meaning you won’t even realize you suffer from it. Coming in for routine checkups and communicating with your dentist can help keep you pain-free.
Treating Sensitive Teeth
If you suffer from sensitive teeth, your dentist may offer a number of treatment options to help ease the pain or correct the problem.
• Desensitizing Toothpaste – This toothpaste can help to reduce the sensations between the tooth surface and the nerve.
• Fluoride Gel – Your dentist can prescribe prescription gels that numb the nerves while strengthening tooth enamel. There are also over-the-counter variations of this, but they may not be effective as your dentists’ prescription.
• Install a Crown – This procedure can help cover the sensitive areas of the tooth and can significantly reduce sensitivity.
• Perform a Gum Graft – If you’ve lost a significant amount of gum tissue, this procedure can protect the exposed tooth.