Top 7 reasons for tooth sensitivity
Does eating or drinking anything cold make you say “ouch” or do you find yourself cringing when you’re brushing or flossing? You most likely have whats known as tooth sensitivity. The good news is that you don’t have to put up with the pain, in fact there are many things you can do to help lessen tooth sensitivity and to improve overall oral hygiene.
A few reasons you may be experiencing tooth sensitivity and ways to help:
- You are brushing with too much force – Sometimes tooth sensitivity can come from brushing with too much force, or with a toothbrush that has really hard bristles. Doing that, over time can wear down the protective layers of your teeth and expose what we call tubules which are hollow canals that lead to the tooths nerve. When these are exposed and have hot, cold, or acidic things it will cause some discomfort.
- You’re a tooth grinder – Grinding your teeth will most definitely wear down the enamel on your tooth over time. Enamel is the strongest substance in the whole body, even stronger than bone. By grinding your teeth, over time you are exposing what is called dentin which is the middle layer of the teeth. Talk to your doctor in regards to the grinding and chances are he will recommend you have a mouth guard made that you wear at night while you’re asleep.
- Tooth whitening toothpaste – most manufacturers will add tooth-whitening chemicals to the toothpaste, so if you have recently switched to a whitening toothpaste and you are noticing some sensitivity i would recommend you switch to something more suitable.
- You use a mouthwash a little too often – Just like the whitening toothpaste. Some over the counter mouthwashes contain alcohol and other chemicals that can make your teeth more sensitive. Try neutral fluoride rinses – or you can simply skip the mouth wash and just spend more time on brushing and flossing.
- You’ve got gum disease – Receding gum lines, which are more common with age especially if you have neglected your oral hygiene can cause tooth sensitivity. If it turns out that gum disease or gingivitis is the problem then your dentist may recommend a procedure to seal your teeth along with treatment for gums.
- You have too much plaque – The main purpose behind brushing and flossing is to remove plaque that has formed on your teeth after you eat. If there is an excess buildup of plaque it can cause your enamel to wear away. Again your teeth start to become sensitive when you wear away the protective layer called the enamel, go for your regular check ups and scheduled cleansing and you shouldn’t have this problem.
- You had a dental procedure – The teeth most often times become more sensitive after sitting in the dentist’s chair, it is really common to have sensitivity after having a root canal, extraction or the placement of a crown. Keep in mind that sensitivity in these cases should only be temporary if sensitivity persists then chances are you have an infection.
The good news it tooth sensitivity is treatable, in fact there are specific toothpastes made for this reason alone. Best thing to do if try a few different brands and see what works best for you, everybody is different so don’t get discouraged
