Causes and Prevention of Sensitive Teeth


You have sensitive teeth when you are having some series of discomfort and pain in your teeth while eating hot or cold food. It might prolong for hours in severe cases. It might mean early sign of a dental problem sometimes. It can affect anybody irrespective of age but it is more seen in adolescent and aged.  You feel the sensitivity while eating or drinking cold food or drink. Sometimes it is while eating acidic food or hot food. It can happen while catching cold air into the teeth.
Causes-Prevention-Sensitive-Teeth


What can cause sensitive teeth?

Tooth sensitivity occurs when enamel, the protective tooth layer is destroyed and dentine underneath is exposed. Dentine is made up of tiny tubules filled with fluid and it leads to nerve. The nerve ending in the dentine get irritated by the presence of hot and cold food or drink and thus become sensitive. At extreme tooth temperature, the fluid movement is affected and thus causes the nerve endings to response. This results in short and sharp pain felt in a sensitive tooth.

Rough handling of teeth while brushing especially with hard bristle brush also destroys the enamel. It can also cause the gum to wear down thereby exposing the root of the tooth and thus a sensitive tooth.

Causes-Prevention-Sensitive-Teeth



Sometimes, tooth sensitivity can occur naturally as the gum shrink and the root of teeth is the exposed.  The root of the teeth is more sensitive because it does not have enamel layer covering or protecting it.

Taking acidic food or drink can result in dental erosion. Acid in the food attacks the enamel and dentine is then exposed leading to sensitive teeth

People with cracked or broken tooth may experience a sensitive tooth especially when the crack as run down the tooth length to the dentine. They get teeth discomfort at extreme temperature especially when drinking cold drink.

Plaque or tartar build up can result in gum receding down and thus exposing the root of the teeth. Tartar can destroy the tooth bony structure and result in sensitive teeth and even gum disease.
The bad habit of grinding teeth together or clenching them can cause the teeth enamel to wear away and thus result in sensitive teeth.
Causes-Prevention-Sensitive-Teeth
Some people experience sensitive teeth for a short period after bleaching their teeth. You can see your dentist before embarking on treatment.

Prevention of Sensitive Tooth

The use of toothpaste that is specially prepared for sensitive teeth can go a long way to prevent sensitive teeth. They desensitize the nerves in the tooth and thus offer tingle and pain relief while taking hot and cold food or drink. Although, toothpaste might not work real fast, it involves a lot of consistency in use.

Choose a toothbrush with soft bristle and brush in a circular movement. Avoid side to side brushing of teeth.  Change your toothbrush every 2-3months or even before that as soon as they become worn out.

Brush your teeth before sleeping at night and some other time at least, twice daily. Try not to brush immediately after eating, you can brush after an hour. This is mainly because some foods and drinks can soften the tooth enamel and brushing them immediately will result in wearing away the enamel.
Causes-Prevention-Sensitive-Teeth

Reduce the intake of very cold, hot, sugary and acidic food. In case you use cold water to brush your mouth, you can change it to warm water in order not to worsen tooth sensitivity

 In case you what to do teeth bleaching, talk about sensitive teeth with your dentist before bleaching it.
See your dentist for advice on mouth grinding if u do. You might be given a mouthguard made to wear at night. click here to read more on the tips and home remedy for sensitive teeth.

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