Understand Methods to Relieve Your Tooth Sensitivity

Sensitive Teeth or Tooth Sensitivity, or “Dentin Hypersensitivity,” is exactly what sounds like pain or discomfort in the teeth in response to certain stimuli, such as hot or cold temperatures.

It can be a temporary or chronic problem and can affect one tooth, several teeth, or all the teeth of the same individual. This can have many causes, but most cases of sensitive teeth are easily treated with a change in your oral hygiene regimen.


What is Tooth Sensitivity?

  • Sensitive teeth occur when the underlying layer of your teeth, dentin, is exposed due to receding gum tissue (the protective covering that covers the roots of teeth).
  • The roots, which are not covered by hard enamel, contain thousands of small tubes leading to the center of the tooth.
  • These dentinal tubules enable stimuli - for example, hot, cold, or sweet foods to reach the nerve in your tooth, causing the pain you are experiencing.

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Causes of Tooth Sensitivity

Brush with too much spirit

Sometimes, tooth sensitivity results from brushing too hard or using a toothbrush with stiff bristles. Over time, these can wear out the protective layers of your teeth and expose microscopic hollow tubes or channels leading to your dental nerves.

Exposure to extreme temperatures or too acidic or sticky foods can cause tooth sensitivity and discomfort. The easiest solution is to switch to a toothbrush with softer bristles and be softer when brushing.

Eat Acidic Foods

If the pathways to your nerves are exposed, acid foods such as tomato sauce, lemon, grapefruit, kiwi, and pickles may cause pain. However, avoiding these foods can help you avoid dental discomfort.

A tooth crusher

Even though tooth enamel is the strongest substance in your body, teeth grinding can wear it down. Doing this exposes the dentin or the middle layer of the tooth that holds the hollow tubes that lead to your nerves. Ask your dentist for a mouth guard to keep you from squeaking.

Use a whitening toothpaste

Many manufacturers add whitening chemicals to their toothpaste formulations; some people are more sensitive to it than others. If your toothpaste contains bleach, consider switching to one that does not.

Addicted to Mouthwashes

Like whitening toothpaste, some over-the-counter mouthwashes and rinses contain alcohol and other chemicals that can increase tooth sensitivity, especially if your dentin is exposed. Instead, try to flush with neutral fluoride or skip the flushing and be more diligent about flossing and brushing.

Gum Disease

Receding gums, which is increasingly common with age (especially if you have not been monitoring your dental health), can lead to sensitive teeth. If gum disease or gingivitis is the problem, your dentist will make a plan to treat the underlying disease and may also suggest a procedure to seal your teeth.

Excessive Plaque

Flossing and brushing aim to remove plaque that forms after eating. Excessive plaque buildup can lead to tooth enamel wear, which can make teeth more sensitive as they lose the protection provided by the enamel. The solution is to practice good daily dental care and visit your dentist for cleanings every six months—or more frequently.

Dental Procedure

It is common to experience some tenderness after root canal treatment, extraction, or crown placement. If the symptoms do not go away after a short time, schedule another visit to your dentist, as this could be a sign of infection.

Cracked Tooth

A chipped or cracked tooth can cause pain that goes beyond sensitive teeth. Your dentist must assess your tooth and decide on the right treatment, such as copying or extraction.

Decomposition of Fillings on the Edges

Fillings can weaken, fracture, or leak around the edges as we age. Bacteria can easily build up in these tiny crevices, causing acid build-up and enamel breakdown. Be sure to see your dentist if you notice this type of sensitive teeth between visits; in most cases, the fillings can be easily replaced.


Tooth Sensitivity Treatment

Desensitizing toothpaste

After several applications, desensitizing toothpaste can sometimes help block the pain associated with sensitive teeth. There are a variety of nonprescription products. Ask your dentist which product is best for your dental care.

Fluoride

Your dentist may apply fluoride to sensitive areas of your teeth to strengthen tooth enamel and reduce pain. He or she might also suggest using prescription fluoride at home, applied via a personalized tray.

Desensitization or Bonding

Sometimes, exposed root surfaces can be treated by applying an adhesive resin to sensitive root surfaces. Local anaesthesia may be necessary.

Surgical gum transplant

If your tooth root has lost gum tissue, a small amount can also be taken from your mouth and attached to the affected site. This will protect exposed roots and reduce sensitivity.

Root canal

If your tooth sensitivity causes severe pain and other treatments are ineffective, your dentist can recommend a root canal- a procedure used to treat problems with the tooth's soft core (dental pulp). Although this may seem an important treatment, it is considered the most effective technique for removing sensitive teeth.


Home Remedy for Sensitive Tooth

Here are some home remedies that help with sensitive teeth:

Oil Pulling

Sesame oil or coconut oil can help reduce sensitive teeth. Oil pulling is a traditional Ayurvedic practice originating in India, which involves swirling the oil around the mouth for several minutes before spitting it out.

Guava Leaves

Chewing on guava leaves or using a topical gel that contains guava leaf extract can help reduce tooth pain and sensitivity.

Clove Gel

People have long utilized clove oil as a popular remedy for toothaches. Research suggests that there is more than just tradition.

Garlic

Garlic is a traditional remedy for a range of health problems. One use of garlic in traditional medicine is to treat toothache. Chewing on a piece of garlic briefly produces a compound called allicin. Allicin has antimicrobial properties and can help kill bacteria that can lead to oral diseases, such as Streptococcus mutans.

Saltwater Rinse

Another way to fight bacteria in the mouth and improve oral hygiene is using a saltwater mouthwash. To make a saltwater rinse, add half a teaspoon of salt to 8 ounces of warm water. Then run the saltwater around your mouth several times before spitting it out.

Capsaicin Gel

Capsaicin is a spicy substance naturally present in chili peppers. Although capsaicin can cause burns when a person applies it to their skin or gums, it can also reduce pain. Applying capsaicin gel to the gums can relieve pain in sensitive teeth.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a yellow spice and an Ayurvedic remedy for reducing inflammation. It contains curcumin, which can help relieve pain. To reduce tooth pain and sensitivity, a person can try making a paste by mixing turmeric and water and then rubbing it into their gums. However, no scientific research has yet supported this use of turmeric.

Fluoride

Using dental products that contain fluoride can reduce the risk of cavities and can also help minimize sensitive teeth. There are many forms of fluoride treatment suitable for everyday use, including:

  • toothpaste
  • gel
  • mouthwash

Desensitizing agents

Desensitizing toothpaste contains agents that make dentin less permeable. Dentin is a hard, porous tissue that is found under the enamel layer of all teeth. When the dentin is less permeable, it means that it is more difficult for the liquid to pass through it. Reduced patency protects the nerve below, which helps decrease sensitive teeth and pain.

Dental desensitizing agents include:

  • metal ions
  • potassium
  • oxalates

Using a desensitizing toothpaste that contains potassium is an option for people with sensitive teeth

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Diagnosis

If you experience sensitive teeth for the first time, make an appointment with your dentist. They can examine the health of your teeth and look for potential problems such as cavities, loose fillings, or receding gums that could be causing the sensitivity.

Your dentist will do this during your routine dental cleaning. They will clean your teeth and do a visual examination. They can touch your teeth using dental instruments to check for sensitivity and order an x-ray on your teeth to rule out causes such as cavities.


When to visit a Dentist?

If a person experiences persistent or severe tooth pain and tenderness, they should see their dentist for a checkup.

According to the cause and severity of sensitivity, a dentist may recommend:

  • using fluoride gel or desensitizing agents
  • a filling
  • a crown
  • an inlay or an inlay
  • a surgical gum transplant
  • a root canal

Tooth Sensitivity Prevention

People can help protect their tooth enamel and prevent sensitive teeth by:

  • Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste
  • Floss once a day
  • Take breaks to whiten teeth
  • Limit the consumption of sugary, starchy, and acidic foods
  • Limit alcohol consumption
  • Wear a mouthguard at night to prevent grinding and clenching of teeth
  • See a dentist regularly
  • Stop smoking

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why are my teeth suddenly sensitive?

Sensitive teeth are caused by faded tooth enamel or exposed nerves in your teeth. When you eat or drink something extremely hot or cold, you may experience a sudden, sharp flash of pain.

2. Do sensitive teeth go away?

This can cause temporary sensitivity to hot and cold, but it usually wears off after a week or two. Whether you have one or more sensitive teeth, it is wise to see your dentist immediately.

3. Is it bad if you have sensitive teeth?

Having a sensitive tooth is a fairly common problem, but what does it mean? Cold-sensitive teeth are the most common and can be caused by receding gums. Of more concern is having heat-sensitive teeth.

4. What is tooth sensitivity?

Tooth sensitivity is discomfort or pain in the teeth when exposed to hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods and beverages. It occurs when the enamel wears down or gums recede, exposing the underlying dentin and its tubules that lead to the tooth's nerve.

5. How long does tooth sensitivity last?

Tooth sensitivity can last from a few days to several weeks. It depends on the cause, such as recent dental work or enamel erosion. If it persists longer, a dentist should be consulted.

6. Is it normal for a tooth to be sensitive after a filling?

Yes, it is normal. Sensitivity after a filling is common due to irritation of the tooth's nerve during the procedure. This usually subsides within a few days to weeks. If it persists, contact your dentist.

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