Have you ever been enjoying a cold drink on a summer’s day and felt a sudden, sharp twinge in one of your teeth? It might go away quickly, or linger for a moment or two, but it’s unpleasant.
If that sounds familiar, you might have sensitive teeth. It isn’t necessarily a cause for concern; it’s a common condition and can often be managed without extensive treatment. However, it’s important to mention it to your local Townsville dentist at your checkups so they can monitor it.
What Causes Sensitive Teeth?
The condition of sensitive teeth, formally known as dentine hypersensitivity, happens when the tooth’s outer layer, the enamel, becomes worn down or damaged. This exposes the more sensitive dentine layer and can cause pain and discomfort. This could be due to several factors, and in most cases can be managed with particular brands of toothpaste and/or cutting down on certain foods and drinks which trigger sensitivity.
Some of the causes of sensitive teeth are:
- Acidic Food and Drinks: Regularly drinking fizzy drinks and fruit juice, or eating citrus fruits and sweets, can gradually erode your tooth enamel and cause sensitivity.
- Brushing too Hard: It sounds counterintuitive but brushing your teeth harder doesn’t make them cleaner; instead, it will almost certainly wear down your enamel over time.
- Dental Work: If you’ve just visited the dentist and had your teeth cleaned, or perhaps a new filling put in, you may experience some sensitivity for a short while afterwards. This is usually temporary and no cause for concern.
In severe cases, tooth sensitivity could be caused by:
- Tooth Decay: Cavities, or chips/cracks in your tooth, could expose the dentine layer and trigger sensitivity. If you have sensitivity to pressure – that is, pain when you bite down on food – as well as to temperature, you might have more significant damage to your teeth, which will need checking out. In severe cases, dental implants may be necessary to restore function.
- Gum Disease: This condition can damage the bones that support your teeth and cause inflammation to your gums, which might make your teeth and nerves more sensitive
How can you Treat Sensitive Teeth?
In most cases, pain from sensitive teeth can be easily managed just by making some simple changes. For example, you could switch to a toothpaste specifically formulated to treat tooth sensitivity. Depending on the brand, a new toothpaste might take a few days of regular brushing before you really notice results, but just persevere, and you’ll have less sensitivity in no time.
If you’ve got a particularly troublesome tooth and you’re waiting on a dentist appointment, you could even try applying a small amount of toothpaste to it directly.
As we mentioned above, sometimes sensitive teeth can be caused by brushing them too hard. Consider switching to a softer-bristled brush or an electric toothbrush, and brush your teeth in gentle, circular motions. Also, remember to floss, to be sure you aren’t inadvertently leaving bits of food between your teeth to cause decay.
When to see a Dentist
If you’re experiencing tooth sensitivity and it hasn’t alleviated with the tips we’ve listed here, you might have a more serious underlying problem. For example, if you’ve got pressure sensitivity as well as temperature sensitivity, or your pain doesn’t go away after a few seconds, get in to see your dentist. They’ll check your teeth over and make sure there’s nothing more serious going on, like a damaged or decayed tooth. The quicker they catch things, the more quickly they can fix them.
If you’re dealing with tooth sensitivity and could use some friendly advice, please do get in touch with us today.
