What causes Sensitivity in Teeth?
What is teeth sensitivity?
The sudden sharp pain in your teeth when you bite into something cold, drink a hot beverage, etc., is known as sensitivity in one’s teeth. If left untreated, sensitivity can worsen and advance to where you can’t consume certain foods and drinks. To administer these abrupt tooth twinges, it would be helpful to know what could be behind them. Once you’ve apprehended the matter, you can talk to your dentist to find a solution.
What are the symptoms of tooth sensitivity?
The most characterizable tooth sensitivity symptoms are abrupt pain and discomfort on eating or drinking something cold, hot, etc. This pain can occur according to the degree of sensitivity, and those are mild, moderate, or critical. At times people with tooth sensitivity experience pain while brushing or flossing or possibly bleeding of the gums. Experiencing pain while brushing or flossing may lead to poor dental hygiene.
What causes teeth sensitivity?
A dental examination can help you determine the underlying cause of your sensitive tooth, as well as the treatment to eliminate this pain.
The causes of teeth sensitivity could be-
Vigorous Brushing
Vigorous brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush leads to gradually wearing off of the tooth enamel. The enamel’s gradual wearing down can expose the dentin, the second layer where the nerve endings are.
Acidic foods
Acidic foods also lead to the wearing down of the tooth enamel and expose nerve endings. Examples of acidic foods include:
Lemons
Oranges
Grapes
Pineapples
Blueberries
Kiwi
Tooth-whitening toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste promises you a brighter smile, but the chemicals in it could wear off your enamel. Routine use can cause discomfort and sensitivity. Alcohol in mouthwashes can also make the teeth sensitive to cold.
Gum disease
The buildup of plaque on the teeth or along the gum line makes the gums infected and inflamed. This leads to the recession of gums and exposes nerve endings on the root.
Grinding your teeth
Grinding of teeth or Bruxism can also wear down tooth enamel and expose dentin.
What are the treatments?
Visiting your dentist would be the wisest approach to facing any such symptoms. Depending upon the circumstances, your dentist will suggest:
Over-the-counter toothpaste
Desensitizing toothpaste, post numerous applications can at times help block pain.
Fluoride
In fluoride treatments, the dentist applies fluoride to the sensitive areas to strengthen the enamel and reduce pain. Your dentist could suggest using prescription fluoride at home.
Desensitizing or bonding
Exposed roots of the teeth can be attended to by applying bonding resin to the root surfaces.
Surgical gum graft
A small amount of gum tissue can be taken from elsewhere in your mouth and attached to the affected site on losing your gum tissue.
Final Note
Sensitivity is a dental issue that hampers your daily life, from the kind of food to the quantity you can manage. The further buildup of this condition can serve certain complications. Therefore, the best alternative is to visit a dentist and learn about treatments and preventive methods.
