You don’t have to live with sensitive teeth, there’s simple dental solutions that can help the problem long-term.
Are you sure your teeth are sensitive? About Sensitive Teeth
Do you wince from time to time or experience tooth pain when consuming certain foods or beverages? You likely have sensitive teeth if you suffer from short, sharp, painful sensations in your teeth when dealing with anything hot or cold. But you shouldn’t ignore sensitive teeth or pass it off as something normal because it’s often a warning sign that there’s something not right with your dentition, signalling you to visit a dentist. Because sensitive teeth can be treated and cured, but ignoring the issue will only make you miserable.
How to treat and cure sensitive teeth
If sensitive teeth bother you, always visit your dentist. Remember, we’re here for a reason. We can help to identify the cause of your sensitive teeth and, at the same time, identify and rule out the underlying causes of your tooth pain.
Depending on the cause of your sensitive teeth, it’s more than likely that we’ll recommend the following treatments to alleviate your heightened sensitivity.
Fluoride treatments
It’s typical for our dentists to recommend and apply fluoride to the sensitive areas of your teeth to reduce pain and simultaneously strengthen your tooth’s enamel. If your case is particularly severe, we might even prescribe for you to use fluoride safely at home, which you can apply via custom trays. The Mayo clinic also recommends fluoride as a form of treatment.
Dental bonding
Dental bonding is an effective, long-term solution for sensitive teeth that’s affordable, minimally-invasive and long-lasting. Composite bonding will typically last for 5-7 years and will typically improve the shape and size of your teeth at the same time. However, you can keep the treatment simple by just having the composite resin applied to your sensitive root surfaces. Typically treatment costs are from £150.
Surgical gum grafts
If the reason you have sensitive teeth is because of lost gum tissue, then we can take it from elsewhere in your mouth and attach it to the affected site that’s causing the sensitivity.
Surgical gum grafts in this way are good to protect exposed tooth roots and consequently, reduce sensitivity.
Root canals
Sometimes a sensitive tooth causing you severe pain is affected by dental decay, where the tooth roots are infected. A root canal in this instance will be necessary to clear the infection from the pulp and will successfully eliminate tooth’s sensitivity. Root canals typically cost from £520.
Your guide to sensitive teeth
Learn everything about sensitive teeth, from symptoms to reasons to natural remedies and cures.
What causes tooth sensitivity?
Sensitive teeth can be caused by a number of reasons, for example, simple activities like brushing your teeth too hard can wear away enamel and make the teeth more sensitive.
As sensitive teeth are mainly caused by a worn tooth enamel or exposed tooth roots, it’s important to be aware of your oral habits to protect your tooth enamel and prevent sensitive teeth.
In some circumstances, sensitive teeth can be caused by an underlying problem with the tooth, typically because of dental decay that’s caused a cavity, a fracture or a cracked tooth. Worn fillings and gum disease are also notorious reasons why many patients experience sensitive teeth.
How to prevent sensitive teeth?
By brushing your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, you can prevent and limit sensitivity from occurring.
Practice gentle strokes, rather than vigorous or harsh scrubbing, and avoid abrasive toothpastes. If you’re a tooth grinder, it will also be better to consider wearing a mouth guard when you’re sleeping, as you can increase tooth sensitivity problems with cracked or fractured teeth.
Certain things to avoid for sensitive teeth
Patients should also consider taking care and avoiding certain acidic foods and drinks, even including carbonated drinks, citric foods and wine. These types of foods can remove enamel over time, which will only make your sensitive teeth worse. If you are to engage with acidic drinks and foods, always drink water afterwards to restore the balance of acid levels in your mouth.
At-home remedies for sensitive teeth
The best way to manage your sensitive teeth at home is with desensitising toothpaste, which after continued use and several applications can be helpful to block pain. There are also a variety of products available over-the-counter, and you can speak to a dentist to discover which one will work best for you.