Have you ever felt sudden sharp pain or discomfort in your teeth? If so, you are not alone.
Tooth sensitivity can affect anyone, at any age. It can make eating hot, cold or sweet foods extremely uncomfortable – even painful – which in turn can impact your quality of life.
Our Montreal dentists explain what tooth sensitivity is, the most common causes, symptoms to watch out for and how you can prevent and treat it. Let’s take a look!
What is tooth sensitivity?
Tooth sensitivity, also known as ‘dentin hypersensitivity’, is an oral health problem characterized by severe dental pain in one or more teeth. This pain occurs when the dentin, the inner part of the tooth that contains sensitive nerve endings, is exposed to certain stimuli. Triggers can include tooth brushing and exposure to foods you should avoid if you have sensitive teeth, such as hot, cold, sweet, acidic or spicy foods (or drinks).
Tooth sensitivity can affect anyone, regardless of age, but is most common in adults between 20 and 40 years old.
If it’s not treated promptly, tooth sensitivity can cause significant discomfort and severely affect your quality of life.
How to tell if you have sensitive teeth
Tooth sensitivity is characterized by sudden, sharp pain in one or more teeth. It can be triggered by a variety of factors, such as when the sensitive tooth or teeth come into contact with hot or cold drinks, when you eat certain foods, and sometimes even just by touch.
In some cases, the pain will last from a few seconds to a few minutes, but it can also be chronic. Regular visits to your dentist will help prevent tooth sensitivity, or if you already experiencing pain, determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.Haut du formulaire
Why do I have sensitive teeth?
There are several factors that can contribute to tooth sensitivity. Your enamel can wear down as a result of:
- Poor brushing technique: Brushing too vigorously or using a hard toothbrush can erode your enamel and expose the dentin, leading to increased sensitivity.
- Excessive consumption of acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, soft drinks or pickled foods.
- Teeth grinding: Also called bruxism, grinding is often the result of anxiety or stress, and can be treated by a dentist or sleep specialist.
- Gum retraction: If the root of a tooth is exposed, it can cause tooth pain.
- Cavities, especially if they are deep and reach the tooth pulp.
- Certain dental treatments, such as teeth whitening or root canal treatments, can also cause tooth sensitivity, although this sensitivity is often temporary.
- Age: Older people are more likely to develop tooth sensitivity because enamel thins over time.
All of these factors can lead to exposure of the dentin, the underlying layer of the tooth, which is what causes pain under the circumstances outlined above.
Prevention and treatment of sensitive teeth
No matter how quickly it develops or how intense it is, dentin hypersensitivity can be a sign of a bigger problem. Some patients do not ask for help because they believe that dental pain is normal. Fortunately, there are several ways to prevent tooth sensitivity or reduce the discomfort once it has developed.
1. Tooth brushing
When brushing your teeth, use a soft toothbrush and choose toothpaste specially designed for sensitive teeth, preferably one that has been validated by the Canadian Dental Association.
Good brushing technique helps prevent your enamel from wearing out and also helps promote the formation of a protective barrier around your teeth. You can also floss and rinse with mouthwash to make the most of your dental cleaning efforts.
Improvements should be noticeable after one week of proper brushing, which will also prevent other problems such as tooth decay and even the onset of dental pulpitis.
2. Other causes of tooth sensitivity: bruxism (tooth grinding) and diet
If you grind your teeth, especially when you sleep, we recommend wearing a protective, dentist-made mouthpiece at night. If these changes are not enough to fix your tooth sensitivity, other dental procedures can be considered, such as:
- Dental restoration with enamel reconstruction using composite resin and varnish
- Tooth devitalization
- Gum grafts
It is also advisable to choose gentler foods that are good for oral health. For example, try eating more dairy products and other foods rich in phosphorus and calcium. Also, fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C and D, fish, and foods high in fiber.
Manage your dental sensitivity with advice from our Montreal dental clinic
Tooth sensitivity can cause a lot of discomfort and disrupt your daily life, but it doesn’t have to. By adopting good oral hygiene habits and avoiding certain acidic foods, you can prevent or reduce tooth sensitivity. If these measures are not enough, you can also turn to dental procedures to solve the problem.
If you think you may be suffering from tooth sensitivity, contact the Clinique Dentaire 1935 for a consultation. Our experienced dentists will be able to assess the cause of your pain and suggest solutions tailored to your situation.
Take care of your dental health and get your smile back today!