Sharp pain after an ice cube touches your teeth, making you wince and cringe. A jolting shock after biting into something that is hot. Getting strange looks when you ask for no ice, or waiting for your food to reach room temperature. If you have sensitive teeth, this is part of your everyday struggle.
Tooth sensitivity is not just caused by heat and cold, it can also be triggered by sweet or sour tastes. It can be isolated to one tooth or several. The cause of this tenderness is where the gums move back and allow the soft surface, called dentin, to be exposed. This layer is full of tiny holes that lead to the nerve center of the tooth, or the pulp. It is these tubes that let the trigger affect the nerves and cause the pain deep in your jaw.
How To Treat Sensitive Teeth
Treating teeth that show sensitivity is not as scary as it may seem. Some of it is as simple as making sure you brush, floss and rinse properly and regularly. A routine can help your mouth by preventing plague or buildup that only increases sensitivity. Using a soft bristle brush and toothpaste made for sensitive teeth can make this process easier to maintain, as no one wants to keep brushing if it hurts. Another more common approach is to watch what you eat; avoiding acidic foods or drinks that can wear down the enamel and expose more of the dentin. Grinding your teeth at night can also cause this issue, so using a mouth guard can help to alleviate the pain.
If these issues still persist, seeing your dentist regularly for cleanings and check-ups can help to determine the direct cause of the pain. There are several procedures that can be done to ease the discomfort. They could suggest which fillings to cover an exposed root surface, or a fluoride varnish to protect the teeth from further damage, or even dentin sealers to block the tubes and protect your nerve endings.
There are, of course, more extreme measures for more extreme pain. A root canal can be suggested for a tooth that has suffered from decay or rot from exposure to plague and bacteria. If the gum has been lost from the root, there is also the option of a surgical gum graft. This is where new skin is grafted into your mouth to replace your gums and help protect your teeth.
Proper hygiene and regular check-ups are key to preventing hypersensitive teeth. If you have sensitive teeth, do not despair, as you can see there are a variety of treatment options to relieve the jolting nerve pain.
After all, we all want the ability to enjoy something cold and refreshing; or to bite into hot from the stove food without pain. Taking care of your teeth is taking care of your quality of life and treating sensitive teeth can make leaps and bounds of improvement in that area.