Around 30 percent of adults in New Zealand are affected by tooth sensitivity and soreness. You don’t have to grin and bear it if you are among them. At Glow Dental, we help patients with sensitive teeth every day. We can ease the sensitivity by working out the root cause of the sharp pain and often eliminate it entirely.
Causes of Sensitive Teeth
Sensitive teeth are when your teeth hurt or feel “on edge” when exposed to hot or cold food or drink. You might feel sharp tooth pain when biting into a frozen dessert or sipping a hot cup of coffee or tea. The simple cause of sensitive teeth is exposure to dentin, the inner part of the tooth that should ordinarily be protected by enamel.
The more complex question is why the dentin is exposed. There are two common reasons:
- Erosion of the tooth’s enamel is the most common reason for sore and sensitive teeth. Tooth abrasion, an acidic diet, tooth grinding or other conditions, such as acid reflux can cause enamel erosion.
- Receding gums are another common root cause, as gum recession exposes the root of the tooth, which does not have a protective enamel layer.
Sudden Sensitivity in Your Teeth
In most cases, sensitivity occurs gradually, as both conditions take weeks and months to develop. If you develop sudden sensitivity, it is likely that some other factor is in play. It is advisable to see a dentist as soon as possible to investigate further.
Sudden sensitivity can be triggered by a change of diet or even by using a new dental product. But it can also be a symptom of tooth damage. For example, a chipped tooth can expose detin, leading to sensitivity.
Treatment Options For Sensitive Teeth
Glow Dental offers a range of treatments to fix sensitive teeth. The first step is to book an appointment so that the dentist can track down the root cause. Then, we can go through the different treatment options with you. Depending on what is causing the sensitivity in your case, treatment options might include the following:
- Specialist toothpaste—In mild cases, using a desensitising toothpaste eases the condition. Remember that it will take a few applications before you start noticing an effect.
- Applying fluoride – a fluoride gel or varnish can strengthen your tooth enamel and ease sensitivity.
- Bonding resin – when gum recession leaves sensitive root surfaces exposed, the application of bonding resin provides a protective layer that alleviates the discomfort of sensitive teeth.
- Root canal treatment—In more severe cases, a root canal treatment might be recommended. This treatment treats problems deep within the tooth and is usually highly effective in eliminating tooth sensitivity, no matter how severe.
- Surgical gum graft: This is a highly specialised procedure designed to “replace” the gum over exposed roots and thereby reduce sensitivity.
Prevention is Better Than Cure
As with so many dental conditions, maintaining good dental hygiene practices and getting regular dental care helps prevent sensitivity and soreness from developing. If you brush your teeth and floss every day and get regular check-ups and cleanings, issues like gum disease and enamel erosion are less likely to arise and can be detected and treated early if they do.
