SENSITIVE TEETH
If your teeth are sensitive you may be avoiding your favourite foods.
Eating ice-cream, hot coffee, cold drinks, citrus fruit, tomato sauce even chocolate can cause you sudden pain.
Tooth sensitivity can be a chronic problem or it can be intermittent.
It can affect a single tooth, a few teeth or all of them.
Pain can be mild to severe.
There are many causes of sensitive teeth and many solutions to this problem so lets have a look at some of them...
Eating ice-cream, hot coffee, cold drinks, citrus fruit, tomato sauce even chocolate can cause you sudden pain.
Tooth sensitivity can be a chronic problem or it can be intermittent.
It can affect a single tooth, a few teeth or all of them.
Pain can be mild to severe.
There are many causes of sensitive teeth and many solutions to this problem so lets have a look at some of them...
You go to have a big bite of an ice-cream when all of a sudden you have a sharp pain - you may have tooth sensitivity.
WHAT TRIGGERS TOOTH SENSITIVITY?
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WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE TOOTH?
The inside of our teeth is made up of dentine - dentine is filled with microscopic nerve endings.
The dentine is covered with enamel over the crown (or top) of the tooth.
The enamel forms a hard protective layer over your tooth and protects the microscopic nerves in your dentin.
The dentine is covered with enamel over the crown (or top) of the tooth.
The enamel forms a hard protective layer over your tooth and protects the microscopic nerves in your dentin.
Unfortunately for some people the enamel can become thin or damaged and this exposes the dentine.
When this dentine is exposed this causes tooth sensitivity.
When this dentine is exposed this causes tooth sensitivity.
WHAT CAUSES TOOTH SENSITIVITY?
The most common cause of tooth sensitivity is brushing your teeth too hard or using a hard toothbrush, but anything that causes you to wear down your enamel and expose your dentine can cause this problem.
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Some medical conditions that cause vomiting can also wear down dental enamel such as GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) or Bulimia.
Tooth decay, broken teeth, chipped teeth or worn down dental fillings can also leave the dentine exposed causing sensitivity.
Gum recession can also leave the root exposed on your tooth leading to sensitivity.
And some dental treatments can cause temporary tooth sensitivity such as fillings, crowns and teeth whitening. This type of tooth sensitivity will usually settle down after a few days without further treatment.
Tooth decay, broken teeth, chipped teeth or worn down dental fillings can also leave the dentine exposed causing sensitivity.
Gum recession can also leave the root exposed on your tooth leading to sensitivity.
And some dental treatments can cause temporary tooth sensitivity such as fillings, crowns and teeth whitening. This type of tooth sensitivity will usually settle down after a few days without further treatment.
WHAT CAN I DO FOR TOOTH SENSITIVITY?
The first thing to do for tooth sensitivity is talk to Dr Steven or Dr Tijana at your next checkup.
We will want to know when the pain started and if there is anything that makes it feel better.
Treatment can be as simple as fixing a cavity or replacing a worn filling.
We can also use fluoride gels to treat the sensitivity.
Sensitive toothpastes can also block the nerves in the dentine and can be very useful to control the symptoms of tooth sensitivity with regular use.
We will want to know when the pain started and if there is anything that makes it feel better.
Treatment can be as simple as fixing a cavity or replacing a worn filling.
We can also use fluoride gels to treat the sensitivity.
Sensitive toothpastes can also block the nerves in the dentine and can be very useful to control the symptoms of tooth sensitivity with regular use.
