Whether you’ve only heard about it or actively experience it, tooth sensitivity can be a real pain (literally). If you’ve ever felt discomfort around your teeth when consuming hot or cold food or beverages, you may actually be experiencing tooth sensitivity. Although some people have naturally sensitive teeth, it can get to a point where some people actively experience pain, and this can be very annoying to live with on a daily basis. In this article, we take a look at what causes tooth sensitivity and what you can do to potentially remedy it.
How tooth sensitivity occurs
It’s good to remember that your local dentist in South Yarra should be the first point of contact to tell you all about how you can treat your case and reduce its effects, but the information in this article should help act as an introduction to the topic. Tooth sensitivity happens over time, can differ to a wide extent in terms of severity and can happen with any number of teeth. The sensitivity occurs when tooth enamel is worn away, as this exposes the sensitive inner layer of the tooth called dentine. This damage can continue further to the root canal and pulp – the very middle of a tooth – to be extremely sensitive. This erosion of the enamel occurs due to things like tooth decay, tooth erosion from acidity, chips or cracks in the teeth,teeth grinding and brushing too hard (among many other teeth damaging pathways). Although the effects can be unpleasant, it’s possible to manage sensitive teeth in a variety of ways. When you book an appointment with your dentist to enquire about sensitive teeth, they will typically ask about the symptoms and examine your teeth and gums, which can also involve x-rays alongside a visual inspection.
Recommended treatments
The treatment your dentist will recommend will depend entirely on your personal circumstances your dentist might recommend you alter your regular oral care routine, suggesta root canal to treat an infected tooth, provide gum disease treatment or a surgical gum graft or may just suggest a filling. One of the most common things dentists will do from the outset is suggest some basic changes from your standard oral healthcare routine. These can be things as simple as using a toothbrush with softer bristles or applying a toothpaste designed specifically for sensitive teeth. They may also show you how to properly floss or brush, as improper technique can work to impact the gums. If you have a severe example of tooth sensitivity, you might be required to undergo root canal therapy. This will involve your dentist drilling into the tooth to remove any infected tissue and replacing this tissue with synthetic material. Although it sounds painful, this procedure involves local anaesthesia to ensure pain and discomfort isminimised.
Are your teeth sensitive?
If you’re finding eating or drinking hot and cold things is unpleasant, you may have sensitive teeth. Booking an appointment with your dentist is a good way to work out what the best tooth sensitivity solution is for you, and you’ll often find that they might just offer up some simple advice to help you remedy the issue. Just remember not to brush too hard and use a soft toothbrush, as this is an extremely simple way to prevent ongoing tooth sensitivity!