So You Suffer from Sensitive Teeth…

Having sensitive teeth is never fun. How frustrating it is to get a sudden sharp shooting pain when you’re trying to enjoy a cold refreshing drink, an ice-cream, or even a hot tea!

Worse, this sort of sensitivity is not always a regular occurrence, and you can be deceived into thinking it’s gone away until a future surprise attack happens. It can come from multiple teeth and different areas of the mouth, but it’s not uncommon for sensitivity to be affecting a single tooth.

Sensitivity normally feels like it’s coming from the tooth at the gum-line, where the cold or hot stimulus is most likely to contact it. It’s usually related to new tooth surfaces becoming exposed over time, which is common in patients who brush their teeth too hard (wearing away the protective top layer), have an acidic mouth (either due to diet or medical issues), or have gum disease which has resulted in gum shrinkage away from the tooth. Even teeth whitening solutions, and having professional cleans at the dentist can cause this sensitivity. If this has happened to you, rest assured that this problem is not beyond help!

General sensitivity can be managed in a few ways. Firstly, head to a dentist and make sure that the sensitivity isn’t coming from anything worse such as decay or loose fillings! Once the diagnosis is confirmed, we can get started on treating the sensitivity. Make sure that the tooth brush you are using is a soft bristle brush (not medium or hard!) and that you are using light pressure to keep your teeth clean. Sensitivity toothpaste might be your next best course of action: these toothpastes often contain a higher concentration of fluoride and can firm up the outer layer of your teeth with repeated use over a long period of time. Topical agents such as Tooth Mousse Plus can be left over sensitive surfaces overnight and restore your outer layer as well. Avoid overly hot or cold drinks and avoid acidic drinks as these can trigger sensitivity at any time. Finally, for a sturdier solution, one of our friendly dentists can place some high concentration fluoride over the sensitive layer of tooth, or seal the sensitive surface with filling material.

By following a careful approach, your sensitivity can be managed and you can begin to enjoy cold and hot drinks again without the nagging fear of pain.

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