WHY ARE MY TEETH SO SENSITIVE?
If cold, sweet, acidic or hot foods make your teeth hurt, you may have sensitive teeth.
Tooth sensitivity (without decay or a fracture) is a common complaint we see on a daily basis at the office. Sensitivity/pain is most often caused by decay or from a cracked tooth, but not always. If these have been ruled out and you’re still having sensitivity, it is likely caused by the inner layer (dentin) of teeth becoming exposed. This can happen for a variety of reasons. Some causes are; overzealous brushing, receding gums, using a toothpaste that is too abrasive, tooth grinding, unsupervised “whitening”, frequent consumption of acidic beverages (i.e. soda), and so on.
If a cavity is the cause, a tooth restoration a filling (or crown, etc.) will help. If it’s gum disease, your dentist and dental hygienist will be able to treat it. But if it’s mostly just sensitive to cold or acidic food, it’s most likely from the dentin layer of the tooth being exposed.
Treatments for this can include using a desensitizing toothpaste, the use of prescription strength fluoride toothpaste and/or rinse and direct application of any one of a number of desensitizing medicaments in the office.
While mild (food/drink inspired) sensitivity is not usually a sign of a more serious dental problem, it can be! If you find yourself experiencing this annoying symptom, please bring it to our attention as soon as possible. We will be happy to help.
THE NUTSHELL VERSION:
Most cases of sensitive teeth are caused by the inner layer (dentin) of teeth becoming exposed. There are a wide variety of causes for tooth sensitivity. These include overzealous brushing, receding gums, using a toothpaste that is too abrasive, tooth grinding, unsupervised “whitening”, frequent consumption of acidic beverages (i.e. soda), and more.
Treatments for this can include use of desensitizing toothpaste, prescription strength fluoride rinses and direct application of any one of a number of desensitizing medicaments in the office.
While mild (food/drink inspired) sensitivity is not usually a sign of a more serious dental problem, it can be! If you find yourself experiencing this annoying symptom, please bring it to our attention as soon as possible. We will be happy to help.
