What Causes Sensitive Teeth? How to Deal With It?

Tooth sensitivity is basically oral discomfort that is instigated by cold, hot, sour or sweet drinks and foods. The pain can be razor-sharp, unexpected, and can shoot deep in the nerve endings of the teeth.

Reasons for Tooth Sensitivity

Sensitivity in teeth may occur due to a variety of different reasons. For instance, there are numerous tiny tubules inside the tooth root that connect to the pulp. Sometimes these tubules let the stimuli (such as food or water) reach the pulp of the tooth that result in pain.

Apart from this, other things that may lead to sensitive teeth are:

Wrong Brushing Style:

Over a period of time, brushing too strongly or making use of hard-bristled toothbrushes can decrease the enamel. It may also cause gum recession.

Gum disease or gingivitis:

Sore or inflamed gum tissue can cause sensitivity that leads to the loss of supporting ligaments, exposing the root surface directly to the tooth nerve.

Cracked teeth:

Broken or chipped teeth can fill with bacteria that can enter the pulp leading to inflammation.

Teeth grinding:

Clenching or grinding the teeth can wear down the enamel and can expose the dentin.

Age:

Sensitivity in tooth is greatest between the ages of twenty five and thirty.

Plaque build-up:

The presence of plaque on the root surfaces can lead to sensitivity.

Mouthwash:

Some of the mouthwashes contain acids that can make tooth sensitivity worse if there is any exposed dentin. The acids further damage the dentin layer of the tooth. If a patient suffers from dentin sensitivity, he/she must ask a dentist about the usage of a fluoride solution.

Acidic foods:

Consumption of certain foods that have high acid content, like tomatoes, citrus fruits, tea, and pickles can lead to enamel erosion.

Dental procedures:

Patients can feel sensitive after teeth cleaning, crown placement, root canal, and tooth restoration. This form of sensitivity is normally temporary, disappearing in about 4 to 6 weeks.

How to reduce sensitivity?

There are several ways by which people can prevent tooth sensitivity from occurring. Here are some of the most successful ones:

Oral hygiene: following proper flossing and brushing techniques to clean every part of the mouth thoroughly can help reduce the chances of tooth problems.

A soft toothbrush: using a soft brush might lead to less abrasion and less irritation to the gums. It is also important to brush carefully and gently around the gums to avoid removing gum tissue.

Eat right: consuming highly acidic foods repeatedly can slowly dissolve the enamel and expose the dentin. These items can also aggravate sensitivity.

Avoid grinding: people who clench or grind their teeth should make use of a mouth guard.

See a dental expert regularly: it’s important to consult a dentist and get fluoride treatment bi-annually to ensure excellent oral health.

Making use of desensitizing toothpastes: there are a variety of toothpaste brands available in the market for sensitive teeth. By using one of these tooth pastes regularly patients can eliminate tooth sensitivity for good. Also, it is not a good idea to use a tartar control paste in such situations; rather a fluoridated paste is more beneficial.

By flossing and brushing your their teeth properly, visiting a dental hygienist and dentist for regular cleanings and checkups, and eating a well balanced, healthy diet (which means foods that are high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy products) you can really help keep sensitivity problems at bay. It is also important that people choose a reputed dentist in case of tooth sensitivity issues. One of the best ways to find out about good dental clinics is to research online.

Ref: - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dentine_hypersensitivity