Potential Causes and Treatments for Tooth Sensitivity

When you take a drink of coffee or another hot beverage, do your teeth hurt? Do you avoid eating ice cream or other cold things because it hurts to do so? If you answered yes to either or both questions, then you likely have sensitive. If you do, then you are not alone – more than 40 million people in the United States have tooth sensitivity.

Read on to learn more about some of the reasons you may have sensitive teeth and some of the ways you may treat it. You can also talk to a dentist who can provide a full dental exam and cleaning to look for underlying causes. Call California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to set up an appointment.

The most common causes of tooth sensitivity

There are a number of potential causes of tooth sensitivity. The most common is that your tooth has decayed or you have a cavity. It may also be a sign that you have a fractured tooth or your fillings have worn down. Tooth sensitivity can be a sign of gum disease, worn tooth enamel, or an exposed tooth root. The best way to find out for sure what the cause is to contact your dentist.

There are several ways to treat tooth sensitivity

There is not a single cure for all forms of tooth sensitivity, in part because there are so many potential causes. Some of the ways you can help to work on sensitivity include:

• Use sensitive toothpaste. It is easy to find over the counter toothpaste that is made specifically to fill exposed tubules in dentin that cause some types of tooth sensitivity.
• Use sodium fluoride gel. This can actually make your teeth stronger, which helps to boost your tooth’s resistance to bacteria and acidic foods that can cause tooth sensitivity.
• Wear a mouthguard at night. If you believe that your tooth is sensitivity due to nighttime grinding, then you may need a nightguard. It is a small, plastic, soft guard that helps protect your teeth while you are sleeping.
• Be gentler when brushing. When you brush too hard, you can wear down the tooth enamel. Use a soft-bristled brush and brush more softly.
• Quit using tobacco products. If you smoke or otherwise use tobacco products then your chances of gum recession and enamel erosion are much higher.

You can also talk to your California dentist about your unique needs. When you visit California Dental Group for your cleaning and exam, let us know about any issues you may have with sensitivity. We can rule out the most common causes and offer some personalized advice to help you reduce or eliminate tooth sensitivity. Call our offices at (800) 407-0161 to make an appointment today.