What Is Tooth Sensitivity And What Do I Do About It?

Tooth sensitivity usually occurs when the enamel protecting our teeth thins or the gums recedes from the teeth. Tooth sensitivity can also be a sign of gum disease and tooth decay, so If you’re experiencing pain or sensitivity due to certain foods or temperatures, the first thing you should do is talk to your dentist.

Tooth sensitivity can come and go over time. It can also be triggered by hot, cold, sweet, or even acidic foods and drinks. Sometimes just breathing in cold air can be painful for your sensitive teeth.

Switching to a desensitizing toothpaste might help reduce the tooth sensitivity. But if your sensitivity continues, you may need to consider few things.

1) Reduce Acidic food and drinks

Acidic food and drinks (such as Red Wine, Soda, Oranges, Grapefruits, Tomatoes etc.) can put your Teeth Enamel under attack. Enamel loss is irreversible and greatly contributes to the sensitivity of the teeth.

Having a glass of water after consumption of such food helps to wash out acidic contents from the mouth.  Also it is recommended to wait at least 20 minutes after consuming acidic food and drinks to brush your teeth. Doing it sooner can actually cause more damage to your enamel.

2) Improve Brushing Technique

The way you brush your teeth, and the type of toothbrush you use can make tooth sensitivity worse. For example, using a stiff bristle toothbrush and scrubbing at your teeth vigorously can slowly wear away the enamel on your teeth.

Instead, use a softer toothbrush, spend at least two minutes brushing, and don’t brush your teeth so hard. Making these simple changes to your brushing routine can make a big difference.

3) Night Guard – Occlusal Splint

Grinding your teeth during the night can contribute to a number of unpleasant things, including jaw pain, headaches and also the tooth sensitivity. Talk to your dentist about wearing a night guard to help combat this habit.  More information on our website.

As mentioned earlier, there are variety of reasons for tooth sensitivity to occur and it is best to get it assessed by the Dental Clinic Endeavour Hills to identify the cause and the best way to a the issue.