Sensitive teeth can be a real pain – literally! Throbbing and aching in your teeth can be set off by many things, including sugary foods and drinks, hot and cold, or even just touching your cheek. Tooth sensitivity can be caused by the enamel wearing off of your teeth, which in turn exposes the nerves that are inside your tooth.
Try these tips for minimizing tooth sensitivity:
1. Use a Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth. Toothpastes designed for use on sensitive teeth can minimize the pain by blocking the nerve endings in your tooth’s dentin. These toothpastes don’t work for everyone though, and they are best with continual use.
2. Avoid Certain Foods and Drinks. Acidic drinks and foods will only contribute to the wearing down of your enamel, so avoid these types of foods and beverages. Red wine, citrus fruits, soda, pickles and many other foods can attack your tooth’s enamel, so limit consumption of these foods and try to brush within 30 minutes of consuming any acidic foods or drinks.
3. Brush The Right Way. Using a soft to medium toothbrush, brushing with just enough pressure to clean your teeth, and brushing for two minutes are all important and can help your teeth get sparkly clean while being mindful of tooth sensitivity. Brushing too hard or with a hard bristled brush will only help to wear down enamel.
4. Be Mindful of Your Gums. Many people forget about their gums and instead concentrate solely on their teeth when there is an issue. But your gums could be playing a part in your tooth sensitivity, too. If you have gum recession due to gum disease or hard brushing, your teeth become more exposed and more prone to enamel erosion and sensitivity.
5. Consult Your Dentist. Your dentist will likely have other suggestions and tips for dealing with tooth sensitivity, so talking to him or her about your problem is a good idea. You dentist also might suggest paint-on barriers for your teeth such as plastic resins or a fluoride varnish that will block the nerve endings in your teeth from exposure to foods and drinks that could cause tooth sensitivity.
If you have any more questions about tooth sensitivity, don’t hesitate to contact the professionals at DentaLux today!
Thanks for sharing this! I have some pretty sensitive teeth and I don’t want to deal with it anymore. It is so frustrating that y teeth hurt every time I eat some ice cream. Hopefully changing my toothpaste and changing the way I brush my teeth will help stem this sensitivity. If it doesn’t help, I think I might have to go talk to a dentist to help me out.