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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 a sign of a more serious problem. It is still important, however, to discuss your
symptoms with your dentist to determine the cause and proper treatment. |
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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 heat, cold and other irritants to be transmitted back to the
tooth nerve triggering pain. Dentin can be exposed by:
• Receding gums caused by improper
brushing or gum disease.
• Fractured or chipped teeth.
• Tooth decay.
• Clenching or grinding your teeth. |
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TREATMENT |
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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.
• 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 to keep pain from returning. |
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