Tooth sensitivity
can be painful, and this discomfort can be caused by eating hot or cold
meals, sweet or sour foods, or even by taking a deep breath on winter
days. The pain is horrible, and it hits you right in the nerves of your
teeth.
What Causes Your High Amount of Pain?
When dentin
erodes, it makes your teeth sensitive. There is a layer named enamel
that protects dentin. The gum protects all these tiny tubules that
connect to the tooth interior, the nerves, and if it gets damaged, it
will make an easy path for hot, cold, sweet, and sour to pass through
the tubules, making us feel this huge amount of pain. Of course, there
are many factors that help destroy the enamel, but these are some of
main causes:
- Having the teeth brushed too hard. Doing this
often can make your enamel weaker each day, which leads to having your
teeth roots exposed
- Rotten teeth, which can damage your gums
- Stagnation of your gums or having a periodontal disease, which can cause the pulp to be exposed
- Having
a gum disease like gingivitis, which can make your teeth sensitive due
to the loss of supporting ligaments caused by sore and inflamed gums
- Broken teeth due to the release of bacteria into the pulp
- Whitening products
- Aging
- Having too much plaque
- Mouthwash
products, many of which contain certain acids that are harmful to your
dentin (if you already have sensitive teeth, using this kind of product
can make your condition a lot worse than it is, so ask your dentist for a
fluoride-free solution)
- Food that is very acidic such as pickles, tea, and pineapple can make your enamel erode
- Recent dental check-ups, which can cause sensitivity for as long as six weeks after your visit
There
are a couple of things you should consider if you want to reduce your
sensitivity, but here is a brief list of what you should do to reduce
your pain:
- Have a proper technique for brushing your teeth, passing through your entire mouth, and finish with floss at least twice a day.
- Use a toothbrush that is soft and try not to brutally brush around your gums to prevent damaging your enamel.
- There
are some toothpaste brands that provide help to those who have
sensitive teeth, otherwise known as desensitizing toothpastes; after
using one of these, you may notice a decrease in your sensitivity,
though you might have to try different ones until you find one suitable
for your case.
- Avoid foods with high amounts of acid.
- Use
dental products with good amounts of fluoride. This will make your
sensitivity decrease. If you need help finding products with the right
amount of fluoride, ask your dentist for advice.
- Avoid grinding your teeth; if this is a nightly problem of yours, use a mouth guard when you go to sleep.
Have regular dentist check-ups every six months to have your teeth cleaned.