Do you have sensitive teeth? Many people feel a slight twinge after eating something hot or cold, but for others the discomfort can be more severe and may range from momentary shooting pains to pain that lasts for several hours. Tooth sensitivity can be unpleasant but don’t just grit your teeth and put up with it as it could be sign of a more serious dental problem.
Who Suffers from Tooth Sensitivity?
Lots of people have sensitive teeth and this problem can begin at any age. It is more likely to affect those aged between 20 and 40 but it is not unusual for teenagers to have tooth sensitivity, or to find it in older adults. Women are more likely to have sensitive teeth than men.
What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?
Tooth sensitivity can be due to several reasons. The crown of the tooth or the part that is visible is covered with a layer of dental enamel which protects the softer and more vulnerable inner layer of the tooth which is called dentine. Dentine isn’t s solid substance but consists of many small tubules which lead directly to the centre of the tooth where all the nerves are located. If the outer layer of enamel is breached, hot and cold substances can penetrate the dentine, reaching the nerves and causing sensitivity.
A tooth’s dentine may become exposed due to acid erosion, where the enamel has been worn away due to eating too many acidic or sugary foods, or the enamel may have been eroded by over aggressive tooth brushing.
Teeth can also become more sensitive if the gums have receded or due to tooth grinding or clenching. Anything that places stress on the teeth and which results in cracks, chips or lesions in the tooth enamel can lead to tooth sensitivity.
Getting Treatment for Tooth Sensitivity
If you have sensitive teeth it is a good idea to book a check-up with your dentist. They will be able to examine your mouth to see if your teeth require any treatment. Repairing cavities in teeth, treating signs of gum disease and mending small cracks and chips in your teeth could help reduce tooth sensitivity. Sometimes fluoride treatments can be useful in reversing the earliest signs of acid erosion and will harden the tooth enamel so it is more resistant to erosion and tooth decay. If the necks of any teeth are exposed, then covering these up with cosmetic filling materials can also help.
You may also want to begin using toothpaste specially designed to treat sensitive teeth. These toothpastes contain special substances which gradually block up any exposed tubules in your dentine, reducing any adverse reactions to hot and cold foods. Toothpastes formulated to treat tooth sensitivity do take several weeks to take full effect as the results are cumulative. You will need to continue using these toothpastes to maintain the effects.
It can take some time for the effects of tooth sensitivity to settle down after treatment. Once your teeth have become less sensitive it is worth talking to your dentist about ways to maintain the results. It could be that you will benefit from changing your diet or the way you brush your teeth. If you grind your teeth then ask about custom-made mouthguards to protect them during sleep.
Yours in oral health,