Why Your Teeth Are Sensitive & How You Can Help
Are you wondering, why are my teeth sensitive? Are you also someone who will always pass on certain foods and beverages, like on a hot summer's day, a nice, icy cold beverage because you know it will set off your tooth sensitivity? Because do we really think an icy drink is worth the tooth pain? Um, No!
If this sounds like you, now is probably a good time for you to book an appointment to see the team at Waterways Dental to get to the root (excuse the dental pun) of the cause. A number of different things can cause tooth sensitivity, and to accurately treat your tooth sensitivity, we need to know exactly what is causing it.
What Causes Sensitive Teeth?
The most common cause of tooth sensitivity is worn tooth enamel and/or exposed tooth roots. However, sometimes it is caused by other factors, such as a hole or crack in your tooth, external factors such as tooth-whitening treatments, and sometimes it is just the way your anatomy is.
The good news is once we know the cause we can then let you know the best course of treatment. No one should have to just "put up" with tooth sensitivity.
How Can You Prevent Sensitive Teeth?
As we all know, prevention is always better than a cure. First and foremost, your 6-monthly dental visits play an integral role in preventing sensitive teeth. While doing your 6-monthly check-up, your treating clinician will be able to catch any issues that might be just starting.
At your 6-monthly visit at Waterways Dental, we also give you a little goodie-bag which includes a soft-bristled toothbrush. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush will reduce the chance of causing what we call "toothbrush abrasion", which is commonly caused by someone using a medium to hard bristled toothbrush and pushing too hard or scrubbing vigorously. This abrasion causes the inside (dentin) of your teeth to be exposed and can be sensitive, also known as Dentin hypersensitivity.
By coming in 6-monthly, we can keep on top of your oral hygiene. If your oral hygiene is in decline and there is plaque/tartar buildup on your teeth, this can cause gum disease. Untreated gum disease can result in gum recession. Gum recession is when the gum begins retreating down the tooth, leaving the root of the tooth exposed (and just an FYI, your tooth root likes to be snuggled under your gum just as much as we do under a blanket a cold, wintery morning) and when exposed your tooth can be very sensitive to the cold. If we catch it early on, gum disease is treatable.
Another cause of enamel wear is by grinding your teeth. As someone who was (and still is) a tooth-grinder, I can certainly attest to the damage tooth-grinding does to your teeth. Thankfully, tooth grinding is addressable with a combination of an occlusal splint (or night guard) and consciously recognising when you are grinding/clenching during the day.
Your oral health is not just about "keeping your teeth", it is about making sure your mouth, as a whole, is comfortable and well maintained.
What To Do If You Are Suffering From Sensitive Teeth?
The best thing to do is to see your dentist. Your treating clinician will identify the cause of your sensitivity and let you know what to do to fix it. In the meantime, until you can get in to see your dentist, try using a sensitive toothpaste when you brush and by also using it as a topical paste and rubbing it directly into the area.
If you are suffering from sensitive teeth, call us today on 07 5572 6522 or book your next visit online here.