If you occasionally experience a
sudden flash of pain, or a mild tingly feeling when you bite
into sweet or sour foods, or drink hot or cold beverages, you
may have sensitive teeth.
Pain from sensitive teeth is not
always constant; it can come and go. Constant pain could be a
sign of a more serious problem. It is important to discuss your
symptoms with your dentist to determine the cause and proper
treatment.
What Causes Sensitive Teeth?
In healthy teeth, porous tissue
called dentin is protected by your gums and your teeth's
hard enamel shell. When this protection is lost, microscopic
holes in the dentin called tubules, allow heat, cold and other
irritants to be transmitted back to the tooth nerve triggering
pain. Dentin can be exposed by:
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Receding gums caused by improper brushing or gum disease. |
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Fractured or chipped teeth. |
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Clenching or grinding your teeth. |
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Aging process. |
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TREATMENT
Depending on the diagnosis, your
dentist may recommend one or more of the following treatments to
relieve the symptoms of sensitive teeth:
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A soft-bristle toothbrush. |
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A special toothpaste for sensitive teeth that can
either block access to the nerve or make the nerve itself
less sensitive. |
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A fluoride rinse or gel for sensitive teeth,
recommended by your dentist. |
A sensitivity protection
toothpaste usually takes several weeks to ease pain. Follow the
instructions of your dental professional on the regular use of
sensitivity protection toothpaste to keep pain from returning. |
