Having a sweet tooth and a sensitive tooth at the same time is torture. Suffering tooth sensitivity means you have to turn your back on ice cream and other sugary treats if you don’t want to experience cringes or total discomfort between your teeth due to certain stimuli. Those who have tooth sensitivity or ‘dentin hypersensitivity’ are also extremely responsive to cold or hot temperatures.

We’ve rounded up the things you should know about tooth sensitivity, including its causes and treatment options. Visit your dentist to address your tooth sensitivity problems today. 

Causes of Tooth Sensitivity 

A lot of the things we do on a daily basis can contribute to or be the detriment of our oral health. It pays to know how our daily routines or underlying diseases can affect our teeth so that we can conduct proactive ways to change our lifestyle. 

Use of Abrasive Toothpaste

Brushing your teeth using an abrasive toothpaste can damage your enamel. As you keep applying it, the formula in the paste can trigger scratches even if you brush your teeth gently. Once your enamel wears off, the thin layer underneath will be exposed. Hence, triggering sensitivity on the teeth. 

Overzealous Teeth Brushing

Improper or overzealous brushing can recede the gums. The softer cementum will then be vulnerable and exposed. Exposed cementum leads to tooth pain and sensitivity. Overzealous brushing also increases the risk of decay. Apart from that, your worn-out cementum becomes notched and it will be harder for you to enjoy meals more freely. 

Acid Reflux Disease

If you have an acid reflux condition, your mouth is extremely acidic. This disease makes your enamel thinner and eventually exposes your tooth’s nerve and the dentin layer. Because your tooth has less protection, sensitivity can come with different temperatures and sugary food intake. 

An Acidic Diet 

Consuming too much highly acidic food weakens your gum line and damages your tooth enamel. Such cons can increase the chances of exposing the inner layer of your teeth and causes vulnerability in the nerve center. If the nerve center is exposed abnormally, it can lead to pain and tooth sensitivity. 

Excessive Teeth Whitening

According to dental researchers, the chemicals used in teeth whitening formulas such as peroxides, affect your dentin and enamel. Products with peroxide are known to bleach away teeth stains, but they also come with mild demineralization. This can make your teeth more porous and hence, more sensitive.

Bulimia

Repeated vomiting can cause severe damage to your teeth. Vomit is toxic as they carry high levels of stomach acid. This type of acid can cause the enamel to wear off. 

Dry Mouth 

Xerostomia or dry mouth is a simple symptom. But it can cause the beginning of a possibly serious health problem. Having a dry mouth welcomes food remnants, plaque, and harmful acids to foster on the teeth. This then causes enamel erosion, where your enamel loses a few layers and thus decreases the protection on your teeth. 

Teeth Grinding 

Also known as bruxism, teeth grinding is a common behavior exhibited by people who are exposed to stress. If you constantly ignore teeth grinding, major tooth sensitivity arises as the grinding can create tiny cracks in your enamel and decrease its quality over time. 

Treatment for Tooth Sensitivity

Depending on the severity of your tooth sensitivity problems, you can either try some home remedies or undertake dental procedures. When considering the treatment options below, it’s important to get the advice of your dentist to properly address the problem. 

Fluoride 

For starters, fluoride can help ease tooth sensitivity discomfort. A dentist will apply fluoride to the areas of your teeth where you mostly feel discomfort, sensitivity, or pain. Fluoride can reduce the ache and strengthen the tooth enamel. You can also apply fluoride at home and follow the instructions from your doctor. 

Desensitizing Toothpaste 

Continuous application of desensitizing toothpaste can relieve the pain associated with having a sensitive tooth. There are many types of desensitizing toothpaste — you just have to pick the right one for your condition. Ask your dentist which brand they recommend. 

Surgical Gum Graft

One of the toughest conditions that can arise from tooth sensitivity is the loss of your gum tissue. A gum tissue transplant can be done by retrieving gums from other parts of your mouth and tapping them into the affected area. The new gum tissue reduces sensitivity and protects exposed roots. 

Desensitizing or Bonding 

Bonding addresses the area in your mouth where the root surface is overly exposed. A bonding resin is applied to the sensitive surface. While this is a safe method, your dentist might still need to use some local anesthetic to make sure you endure the pain during the treatment.

Root Canal

Your dentist will probably recommend that you undergo a root canal procedure if the aforementioned treatments do not work for you. It is a type of oral procedure that addresses dental pulp or a tooth’s softcore. According to experts, a root canal is the most successful treatment to remedy tooth sensitivity. 

Visit Your Dentist and Treat Tooth Sensitivity

While tooth sensitivity does not cause any major oral condition, ignoring it for a long time will never do any good to your oral and overall health — not to mention that it significantly affects your ability to enjoy food and decreases your quality of life. Make sure to treat tooth sensitivity as early as possible for more comfortable and healthy living.