Causes and Treatments For Teeth Sensitivity

Teeth sensitivity can occur when you consume hot, cold, sweet, or sour foods and drinks, or even by breathing cold air. Pain can be sharp, and sudden, and shoot deep into tooth nerve endings. Sensitive teeth are typically the outcome of used tooth enamel or exposed tooth roots. Sometimes, notwithstanding tooth discomfort due to other factors, by way of illustration a cavity, a cracked or chipped tooth, a used filling, or gum disease.

 

What causes sudden tooth sensitivity?

In healthy teeth, a layer of enamel protects the crowns of your teeth. Under the gum line, a layer called cementum protects the tooth root. Underneath both the enamel and the cementum is dentin.Many factors can lead to the development of sensitive teeth, here are a few:

Brushing too hard: Over time, brushing too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush can wear down enamel and cause the dentin to be exposed. It can also cause gum recession (when your gum tissue pulls away from your teeth).

Gum recession: Some people are genetically prone to the thin gum tissue. Other people develop gum recession as a result of periodontal disease. With gum recession, your gum tissue pulls away from your teeth, exposing the roots.

Gum disease: Inflamed and sore gum tissue may cause sensitivity because of the loss of supporting ligaments, which exposes the root surface that leads directly to the nerve of the tooth.

Teeth grinding: Grinding or clenching your teeth may wear down the enamel and expose underlying dentin.

Age: Teeth sensitivity is highest between the ages of 25 and 30.

Plaque buildup: The presence of plaque on the root surfaces can cause sensitivity.

Acidic foods: Regular consumption of foods with a high acid content, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, pickles, and tea, can cause enamel erosion.

Recent dental procedures: People can get sensitive teeth after fillings, teeth cleanings, and dental restoration placement. Sensitivity caused by dental procedures is temporary and usually disappears in four to six weeks.

 

What can help with teeth sensitivity?

If your sensitive teeth are bothering you, visit your dentist. So they can rule out any underlying causes of your tooth pain. Depending on the circumstances, your dentist might recommend the following:

Desensitizing toothpaste: This contains compounds that help block the transmission of sensation from the tooth surface to the nerve. After several applications, desensitizing toothpaste can sometimes help block pain associated with sensitive teeth. There are a variety of products available over the counter. Ask your dentist which product might work best for you.

Watch what you eat: Frequent consumption of highly acid foods can gradually dissolve tooth enamel and lead to dentin exposure. They may also aggravate the sensitivity and start the pain reaction.

Fluoride gel: An in-office technique that strengthens tooth enamel and reduces the transmission of sensations. Your dentist might also suggest the use of prescription fluoride at home, applied via a custom tray.

Avoid teeth grinding: If you grind or clench your teeth, use a mouth guard at night.

A crown, inlay, or bonding. These may be used to correct a flaw or decay that results in sensitivity. Occasionally, exposed root surfaces can be treated by applying bonding resin to the sensitive root surfaces.

Surgical gum graft. If your tooth root has lost gum tissue, a small amount of gum tissue can be taken from elsewhere in your mouth and attached to the affected site. This can protect exposed roots and reduce sensitivity.

Root canal. If sensitivity is severe and persistent and cannot be treated by other means, your dentist may recommend this treatment to eliminate the problem – a procedure used to treat problems in the tooth’s soft core. 

 

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