Are your teeth sensitive to cold and hot?
Do you experience tooth sensitivity while performing daily activities like consuming hot or cold foods and beverages and brushing your teeth? These simple activities can make people suffering from tooth sensitivity to live in constant fear of severe pain, much greater than the pain from a dental filling.
Sensitivity occurs when dentin, the middle layer of your tooth, becomes exposed. The dentin contains microtubules, which are microscopic pathways to the nerve. Exposure of dentinal tubules, due to receding gum tissue or enamel loss, makes it easier for the nerves to be triggered by certain stimuli causing tooth sensitivity.
What Causes Sensitive Teeth?
Tooth sensitivity can be defined as a mild to moderate tooth discomfort or a sharp, sudden and shooting pain in one or more teeth. The underlying causes of tooth sensitivity is the exposure of either the layer of a tooth underneath the enamel (called the dentin) or the layer covering the root (called cementum) along the gum line due to receding gums. These exposed areas are responsive to hot, cold and sometimes too sweet and spicy foods, resulting in pain.
Common factors that can contribute to tooth sensitivity include:
Aggressive brushing: Harsh brushing using too much force, or with a hard-bristle toothbrush, may wear down tooth enamel, as well as expose the cementum or dentin and cause tooth sensitivity.
Tooth grinding or Bruxism can cause the enamel to wear off and leave the dentin exposed.
Temporary tooth sensitivity: which can occur after a professional dental cleaning or teeth-whitening treatment, but it usually goes away shortly after the procedure ends.
Gum disease: Inflamed gingival tissue pulls away from the tooth, leaving vulnerable areas exposed.
Sensitive Teeth Treatments
Sensitivity pain can be relieved with a number of treatment options that are available As 80% of sensitivity starts at the gum line, it’s important to brush with a toothpaste that’s good for your gums with a soft bristles toothbrush to avoid damaging the gums. Also, modify your brushing method to vertical strokes rather than scrubbing movement.
How To Prevent Tooth Sensitivity
A few important steps you can take to prevent tooth sensitivity include:
- Attaining a Vertical strokes brushing method.
- Brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day to prevent gum loss.
- Clean between your teeth and along the gum line when brushing.
- Avoid acidic foods and beverages. And every time you have acidic food or drink , rinse your mouth with plain water to dilute the acid.
- Using a soft-bristled toothbrush to prevent gum loss.
Regular check ups helps prevent the need for dental surgery and tooth extractions.
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