If you occasionally experience a sudden flash of
pain, or a mild tingly feeling when you bite into sweet
or sour foods, or drink hot or cold beverages, you
may have sensitive teeth.
Pain from sensitive teeth is not always constant; it
can come and go. Constant pain could be sign of more
serious problem. It is still important, however to
discuss your symptoms with your dentist to determine
the cause and proper treatment.
What Causes Sensitive Teeth?
In healthy teeth, porous tissue called dentin is protected
by your gums and your teeth's hard enamel shell.
When this protection is lost, microscopic holes in
the dentin called tubules, allow head, cold and other
irritants to be transmitted back to the tooth nerve
triggering pain. Dentin can be expose by:
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Receding gums caused by improper brushing or
gum disease |
| - |
Fractured or chipped teeth |
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Clenching or grinding your teeth |
Depending on the diagnosis, your dentist may recommend
one or more of the following treatments to relieve
the symptoms of sensitive teeth:
| - |
A soft-bristle toothbrush or a special toothpaste
for sensitive teeth that can either block access
to the nerve or make the nerve itself less sensitive. |
| - |
A fluoride rinse or gel for sensitive teeth,
recommended by your dentist. |
A sensitivity protection toothpaste usually takes
several weeks to ease pain. Follow the instructions
of your dental professional on the regular use of sensitivity
protection toothpaste from returning.
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