If you experience a short, sharp but temporary pain when you eat or drink hot or cold things, you have sensitive teeth.
Tooth sensitivity happens when the tooth enamel wears away and the internal layer of teeth is exposed. Tooth sensitivity makes easy activities such as eating and brushing your teeth a painful affair. Read on to learn how to take care of sensitive teeth perfectly.
What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?
One of the major causes of tooth sensitivity is receding gums due to periodontal infections. Using a toothbrush with very hard bristles or abrasive brushing can also cause tooth sensitivity.
Tooth sensitivity is also common among people who have been using mouthwashes for a long time.
Habits such as frequent clenching and grinding your teeth may also cause your teeth to become sensitive.
Eating acidic foods and drinks such as apple cider vinegar and lemons can cause your enamel to wear out leading to sensitivity. Always use a straw when taking acidic drinks.
Cracked teeth or teeth with cavities are also very sensitive since the nerves are exposed. Teeth whitening or bleaching may also cause temporary tooth sensitivity.
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Care for Sensitive Teeth
Caring depends on how bad the sensitivity is and what has triggered it. To fully treat sensitive teeth, the root cause of the sensitivity must be established and addressed.
Use Desensitizing Toothpaste
This is one of the easiest and simplest ways to take care of sensitive teeth. If you’re experiencing a problem, you can start taking care of them by switching your regular toothpaste with desensitizing toothpaste.
Desensitizing toothpaste can either be fluoridated or tartar control. The fluoridated toothpaste is the best for sensitive teeth. However, talk to your dentist to get the best recommendation for your tooth sensitivity.
Desensitizing toothpaste contains potassium nitrate that treats tooth sensitivity by numbing the tooth nerve.
It may also block the exposed part of the dentin and forms a buffer to guard the nerves. Apply a thin layer of the fluoridated sensitizing toothpaste on your teeth before bedtime.
Use A Brush with Soft Bristles
A brush with hard bristles makes sensitivity worse especially if it was caused by receding gums. Be gentle with your brushing, too rough brushing bruises the gums, and makes the sensitivity worse.
Brush your teeth twice a day as opposed to after every meal.
Keep Away From Sensitivity Triggers
Tooth sensitivity is triggered by certain low or high-temperature foods. Acidic foods and sour foods may also cause sensitivity to worsen.
Avoid foods and drinks that can affect your teeth.
Get Gum Guards
If your tooth sensitivity is caused by too much grinding or clenching of the teeth, get a gum guard. A gum guard protects your teeth from grinding on each other and causing more damage to the enamel.
A gum guard is particularly helpful for the people who subconsciously grind their teeth in their sleep.
Since not all jaws are the same, your mouthguard should be specially modeled for you.
Discontinue Whitening
Consider taking a break or doing away with teeth whitening if it’s causing your teeth to be sensitive.
Explain the effects of the whitening to your dentists and get the best advice.
Take Way
Sensitive teeth are a major cause of misery for most people. Knowledge of how to take care will reduce this misery.
Most adults may have experienced this pain and not known that it’s caused by tooth sensitivity. If you are not in the statistics already, keep your teeth healthy and avoid anything that will cause your teeth to be sensitive.