Dr. Margarida Laub, DMD | 205 West 1st Avenue, Coal Valley, IL 61240

Email: drlaubvalleydentalcenter@gmail.com | Phone: 309-799-3000

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Cause and Treatment of Sensitive Teeth

Many people suffer from sensitive teeth. It can start at any time and at any age. The experience of having sensitive teeth can be anything from feeling a mild twinge to having severe discomfort that can last from minutes to several hours. It may also be a signal of more serious dental problems.

If you experience discomfort or pain when you drink hot or cold dinks, or when you eat hot or cold foods like ice cream, you may have sensitive teeth. Best to visit your dentist right away for help as it may be an early warning sign of a more serious problem.

Common Causes of Sensitive Teeth

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To prevent sensitive teeth from recurring, brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste twice a day. Floss daily. Avoid vigorous or harsh scrubbing, highly abrasive toothpaste, and excessive brushing and flossing. If you grind your teeth, ask your dentist about a mouth guard. Tooth grinding can fracture teeth and cause sensitivity.

Limit acidic foods and drinks, such as carbonated drinks, citrus fruits, wine and yogurt which can remove small amounts of tooth enamel over time. When you drink acidic liquids, use a straw to limit contact with your teeth. After eating or drinking an acidic substance, drink some milk or a glass of water, this will help balance the acid levels in your mouth. Avoid brushing your teeth immediately after eating or drinking acidic substances, acid food softens the dental enamel and makes it much more vulnerable to erosion during brushing.

There are also many effective brands of toothpaste made specifically for sensitive teeth. Use the toothpaste as directed and brush twice a day. You can also rub the toothpaste directly onto sensitive areas. These toothpastes usually take a few days to several weeks to take effect. They may or may not be a total solution to the problem but it can help temporarily alleviate your discomfort. Your dentist be able to advise you on which type of toothpaste is best for you.

Flair-up from sensitive teeth are usually a response from certain activities, such as brushing, flossing, eating and drinking. These can cause sharp, temporary pain in your teeth. This sensitivity is the result of worn tooth enamel or exposed tooth roots. However, tooth discomfort can be caused by other factors, such as a cavity, a cracked or chipped tooth, a recently placed filling or a lingering effect of other dental procedures, such as bleaching.

If you are concerned about your sensitive teeth, call your dentist and make an appointment to have it checked out. Your dentist can identify any underlying causes of your tooth pain. And, depending on the prognosis, your dentist might recommend the following solutions to address your particular sensitivity issue:

Desensitizing Toothpaste: After serveral days of regular daily use, desensitizing toothpaste can help to block the temporary discomfort and pain caused by sensitive teeth.

Fluoride: Your dentist can apply fluoride to the sensitive areas of your teeth to strengthen tooth enamal and reduce pain. Your dentist may also suggest the use of a prescription fluoride.

Desensitizing or Bonding: Occasionally, exposed root surfaces can be treated by applying bonding resin to the sensitive root surfaces. Alocal anesthetic may be required.

Surgical Gum Graft: If your tooth root has lost gum tissue, a small amount of gum tissue can be taken from elsewhere in your mouth and reattached to the affected site. This will protect exposed roots and reduce tooth sensitivity.

Root Canal: If your teeth cause severe pain and other treatments prove to be ineffective, your dentist may recommend a root canal . This procedure is used to treat problems in the tooth's soft inner core called dental pulp. While this might seem like a more significant procedure, it is considered to be the most successful technique for eliminating tooth sensitivity.