Have you ever grimaced in pain while eating ice cream or drinking a hot cup of coffee? If so, one of the reasons why could be heightened teeth sensitivity. Having sensitive teeth isn’t a medical issue in itself; It’s a symptom of poor oral health and may arise due to numerous factors.
Curious to know more? Here’s a look at some of the most common causes and remedies for sensitive teeth.
Causes
One of the primary causes of hypersensitive teeth is inadequate protection of your dental roots. Our teeth contain roots at the bottom that extend down into our jaws to keep our teeth in position. These roots consist of nerves and blood vessels encased in dentine and an enamel layer on top. The bony, visible part we refer to as a tooth is actually the tip of the iceberg—and if the enamel/dentine erodes, we feel pain due to the nerves getting exposed.
Another factor that causes tooth sensitivity is damaged gingiva. In simple words, if our gums get damaged and/or recede, the nerves in the roots of our teeth may be exposed and cause us to feel pain.
Remedies
If you want to remedy sensitive teeth, your best bet is to address the root causes outlined above. There are two main ways to do this: obtain professional help to restore the dentine/enamel layer on top of the root of your teeth and/ or treat/prevent damage to your gums (gingiva).
Dentists typically recommend dental fillings, crowns, or implants depending on the extent to which the patient’s tooth enamel/dentine has corroded. If there’s minor corrosion, fillings can be used to plug the cavities and prevent the nerves in your dental roots from being exposed.
If the cavities are substantial, the dentist will file down your tooth before attaching a crown made of materials that resemble bone, such as porcelain or ceramic. Once the crown is attached, the dentist will file it into a shape resembling the original tooth. In extreme cases, your tooth may need to be replaced by an implant.
The other remedy is to treat issues like gum disease. Dentists normally recommend flossing, proper toothbrushing techniques, and/or medicine like antibiotics to address gum diseases such as gingivitis.
We Use Modern & Personalized Methods to Accurately Identify the Causes and Provide Remedies for Sensitive Teeth
Are you keen to attend a comprehensive dental checkup and learn more about the causes and remedies for sensitive teeth from experienced professionals? If so, we look forward to welcoming you at Park Avenue Dental.
Our innovation and patient-centric approach to dentistry have earned us a stellar reputation for being one of the best dental practices in Gainesville. Whether you’re after routine teeth cleaning or you want to bring your kids in for a comprehensive checkup, we’ll do our utmost to maximize your oral health.
Reach out to us today to set up a consultation.
