Have you ever bitten into a popsicle and felt pain radiate through your teeth? Are your teeth sensitive to cold when eating ice cream or even enjoying a glass of sweet tea? Do you find your teeth are extremely sensitive only when brushing, or are your teeth sensitive when eating or drinking?
Teeth sensitivity can make eating or drinking something hot, cold, sugary, or bitter hard because it causes discomfort and pain. Why are teeth too sensitive? How do you stop sensitive tooth pain immediately, and how do you prevent tooth sensitivity?
Tooth sensitivity can have many causes. Beavers & Broomfield Family Dentistry can help determine why your teeth are sensitive and offer ways to fix the problem.
What Is Tooth Sensitivity?
Tooth sensitivity occurs when teeth react to extreme heat or cold, something super sweet, such as frosting, or something bitter, like lemons. Symptoms can range from a twinge or odd feeling to pain or aching lasting several hours.
Tooth sensitivity can start in the teens, but it usually strikes people between 20 and 40. However, it can hit nearly any age, and you’ll want to see a dentist if it doesn’t go away.
What Causes Sensitive Teeth?
Tooth sensitivity occurs when the enamel on a tooth thins, exposing the dentin underneath. The enamel is the hard shell that protects the tooth’s sensitive interior.
If tooth erosion or enamel wears down, the enamel can thin or become pitted, exposing the teeth’ nerves through tubules found throughout the dentin. These tubules lead to the pulp, where the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth are located.
What causes sudden tooth sensitivity? Here are a few possible causes:
- Acidic foods, which can erode enamel
- Plaque and tartar buildup, which can eat away at the enamel and expose dentin
- Brushing too hard can wear down enamel and cause gums to recede
- Using a hard-bristle brush can also wear down enamel and damage gums
- Gum recession, which can expose tooth roots
- Gum disease, which can cause gum recession and root exposure
- Grinding teeth, which can wear down enamel and expose dentin
- Cracked or broken teeth, which can also expose the tooth’s interior
- Aging includes teeth wearing down over time, exposing the dentin
- Mouthwash acids that can be found in some over-the-counter products can make sensitivity worse
- Teeth whitening that seeps through the enamel to the dentin makes teeth whitening and tooth sensitivity common
- Dental work such as cleanings, fillings, or preparation for veneers or crowns can temporarily cause tooth sensitivity
How Do I Stop Tooth Sensitivity?
Tooth sensitivity often isn’t permanent, particularly with dental work and teeth whitening. If your tooth sensitivity lasts beyond a few weeks, habit changes or dental treatments may be necessary to stop tooth sensitivity. Fixing sensitive teeth is more complicated than how to help sensitive teeth because some issues, such as loss of enamel, may be permanent.
Talk to your dentist about sensitive teeth. At Beavers & Broomfield Family Dentistry, we can provide treatments to improve your tooth sensitivity. We can also discuss the oral hygiene products you’re using and help you find ones that may enhance your tooth sensitivity.
One option is a dental sealant, which can protect enamel and reduce tooth erosion. We can apply such a sealant, which soaks into the nooks and crannies of each tooth and protects them. We can also provide fluoride treatments to help strengthen enamel.
We also recommend toothpaste and fluoride rinses at home to strengthen your enamel.
How Do I Prevent Tooth Sensitivity?
Good oral hygiene habits are the best way to prevent tooth sensitivity at home. Brushing and flossing daily keeps acids, plaque, and tartar from building up on your teeth and eating away at your enamel.
Wondering how to treat sensitive teeth at home? Here are a few suggestions:
- Brush with toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Several options are available that fill the enamel pits and block the dentin tubules, leading to the tooth’s nerves.
- Use teeth whitening for sensitive teeth. Ask your dentist about professional teeth whitening that will cause less sensitivity than home kits.
- Use a fluoride mouthwash. Some prescription fluoride mouthwashes lack the acids that harm teeth and contain fluoride that strengthens the enamel.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Reduce your pressure when brushing, and use softer bristles to protect your enamel.
- Change eating habits. Avoid foods high in acid or sugar to help prevent tooth decay. Foods high in fluoride, calcium, and potassium can help your teeth.
- Stop bruxism. Breaking your teeth-grinding habits will reduce tooth wear, which can expose dentin. Talk with your dentist about a night guard to help your bruxism.
- Visit the dentist regularly. A semi-annual dental checkup is about more than cleaning your teeth. We can treat cavities and provide sealant treatments that can help reduce discomfort in sensitive teeth.
Tooth Sensitivity Care in Fayetteville, AR
Beavers & Broomfield Family Dentistry is available to answer questions about tooth sensitivity and other queries about your oral health. If you’re in the Fayetteville, AR, area, give us a call or schedule a free evaluation. We’re here to help!
