Sensitive Teeth
Do you feel a shooting pain in your teeth when eating or drinking something hot? Does the thought of biting into ice cream or a cold hard apple make you wince? Sensitive teeth can be a burden for many people and can be caused by several things.
It is always important to seek advice from a dental professional so the source of the problem can be identified and treated.
Why Are My Teeth Sensitive?
If you’re wondering what causes sensitive teeth, then you may be surprised to learn that it is commonly caused by aggressive brushing, gingivitis, gum recession, cracked teeth, plaque build-up, teeth grinding, teeth clenching and also overconsumption of acidic products.
A major cause of tooth sensitivity is dental erosion, which is the loss of tooth enamel. Enamel is the hard outer coating of a tooth, which protects the sensitive dentine underneath. If the enamel is worn away or eroded, this dentine is exposed which can lead to pain and sensitivity, which can be worsened with extreme temperatures.
Erosion can be caused by your diet (frequent consumption of high sugar or high acid food or drink), tooth brushing habits (brushing too hard), tooth grinding, certain medical conditions and eating disorders. For top tips on protecting your enamel and for effective treatment of tooth sensitivity, come to the practice for a check-up, where we can create an individualised care plan for you.
Symptoms of Sensitive Teeth
Some of the most common sensitive teeth symptoms include sudden sharp flashes of pain that occur during particular periods of time, for example, cold temperatures, fresh air or when consuming sweet, acidic or hot foods/drinks.
You may even experience slight discomfort when brushing or flossing the teeth.
How to Treat Sensitive Teeth
Luckily, sensitive teeth are temporary and can easily be treated professionally with sensitive teeth treatment. Like any dental procedure, there is no universal treatment to solve teeth sensitivity. The many options for treatment depend on the cause and person to person, as it will depend on the root cause of your teeth sensitivity.
Some of these tooth sensitivity treatments include composite bonding, dental crowns, inlays, root canal treatments, to name just a few.
If you are suffering from any of the above issues, we will most likely request to see you more frequently. Once we are happy with the results, we will advise you on whether we would like to see you every six or 12 months.
If you’d like to find out more about our dental treatments or if you have questions regarding tooth sensitivity, we would be more than happy to offer you advice.
