Should You See Your Dentist About Sensitive Teeth?

Do hot and cold foods and drinks cause pain? Do you feel pain when you brush your teeth? If so, you may have sensitive teeth. This is a dental health condition that requires treatment to improve. If you don’t take action, it’s likely to worsen over time. Many people struggle with sensitive teeth and don’t know there are effective treatment options available for it. At Cedar Walk, we can help you improve your smile through effective diagnosis and treatment for tooth sensitivity.

Common Symptoms of Sensitive Teeth

Sensitive teeth often cause intense and sudden pain. It is often a reaction to a trigger of some type. This pain can impact just the roots of the tooth, beyond the gum line, or the whole tooth. It can range from mild to severe. Some of the most common triggers or symptoms include:

• Hot foods or drinks
• Cold food and drinks
• Sweats
• Acidic foods
• Alcohol-based mouthwashes
• Flossing the teeth
• Brushing the teeth

If you feel these symptoms, and they continue to occur, schedule a comprehensive dental exam to determine the underlying cause. This is not normal. If it goes away but comes back later, that’s also a warning sign that you should see your dentist.

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?

Sensitivity occurs when the outer surface of the teeth begins to wear away. This is the enamel. It is a very hard material that covers the surface of the tooth. It works to protect the teeth from bacteria and breakdown. It also helps to give it that strong, durable surface. Unfortunately, enamel can wear down.

This often leads to the dentin inside the tooth becoming exposed. Because there are nerve endings in the inner portion of the tooth, a worn enamel surface may allow for those nerve endings to become triggered. That can lead to intense, sharp pain.

This can happen for many reasons:

• Poor dental hygiene
• Brushing the teeth too hard
• Grinding the teeth especially the surface of the back teeth
• Drinking and eating acidic foods consistently
• Not getting professional teeth cleaning on a routine basis

Additionally, tooth sensitivity can occur as a result of gum recession, which occurs when periodontal disease is developing. Tooth decay in general can be problematic. As the teeth breakdown, this causes the inner areas where nerves are present become painfully exposed. If you have existing fillings or crowns, if those are not properly cared for or otherwise wear down, that can expose roots, too. Causing that intense pain.

Any time there is dentin exposure, there is a risk of significant tooth pain and sensitivity like this. This is common when the pain is in one tooth, often a sign of significant damage or infection. Other times, it can impact one area of the mouth or many teeth.

What Can You Do to Prevent Sensitive Teeth?

Recognize that the best way to avoid sensitive teeth is to maintain your teeth properly. That means having routine dental checkups and cleanings. It also means properly brushing and flossing throughout the day to remove the bacteria that often cause damage. In addition to this, avoid acidic foods. If you do eat them, brush your teeth as soon as possible. Paying close attention to your oral health can help to minimize the onset of tooth pain.

What Can Be Done If You Have Sensitive Teeth?

Treatment for tooth senility depends on the underlying cause as a first step. That takes coming in for an exam with your dentist. X-rays and a visual inspection will determine what the cause is, for most people. There may be evidence of enamel wearing down, gum disease development, or other signs of trauma to the tooth.

From there, the next step is to repair the damage. This can be done in several ways based on your teeth. Periodontal treatment and root canals may be necessary to minimize tooth decay. Restorative dentistry services may be necessary if the damage is significant. There is no way to replace the enamel on the tooth, but there are toothpastes and other products that may help to reduce some of the sensitivity that you feel while you work to resolve the underlying cause of the infection.

Let Our Team Help You With Tooth Sensitivity

If you are struggling with painful tooth sensitivity don’t put off an exam. This is the best way to reduce the pain but also to prevent the worsening of your oral health. Call Cedar Walk today to set up an appointment time with our team.