Most of us have experienced tooth sensitivity at some point. It’s that sudden jabbing pain you feel when you drink hot or cold liquids or when you inhale and your teeth are suddenly exposed to air. Tooth sensitivity can feel like an electric shock that you experience many times during your day, making your life miserable.
Causes of Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity generally means that some surface areas of your teeth aren’t protecting the roots of your teeth. The roots carry nerves that can be triggered by air or hot and cold sensations and deliver a jolt of pain.
Causes can include:
- Enamel erosion
- Gum disease and recession
- Dental procedures
- Tooth decay
- Diet
- Aggressive brushing
- Acidic food and drinks
- Tooth whitening procedures
- Tooth grinding
As we age, the enamel in our teeth can start to erode, our gums may begin to recede, and we may notice this pain happening more frequently.
Treatment Options for Tooth Sensitivity
There are many home remedies that can alleviate the pain of sensitive teeth. However, these treatments only treat the pain itself and not the cause. For permanent relief of recurring tooth sensitivity, make an appointment at a dental clinic in Bangkok.
Natural Remedies
To practice proactive tooth care, you should only be using a fluoridated toothpaste.
Some of the natural remedies recommended by dentists are simple and quick, and they may offer the relief you need without you having to go any further.
Rinsing your mouth with saltwater immediately after meals helps reduce gum inflammation and can relieve tooth sensitivity. Sesame or coconut oil can also provide temporary relief to sensitive teeth. Try to avoid acidic food and drinks in your diet.
Desensitizing Toothpaste
Desensitizing toothpaste helps ease pain by using active ingredients to either block nerve responses or strengthen the enamel covering the dentin tubules that relay the pain triggers to the nerves. There are several brands of these toothpastes on the market. You should try them to see which works for you.
Fluoride Treatments
Fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel and guard against nerve exposure. Although fluoride is in many of the toothpastes we use, a fluoride treatment by a dentist can be beneficial for severe tooth sensitivity. These treatments can be administered every 6 to 12 months or as often as your dentist recommends.
Dental sealants
If either enamel erosion or gum recession causes your sensitivity, dental sealants may provide the answer. A dentist applies these sealants and bonding treatments, which cover up exposed areas of dentin tubules where the enamel has worn away.
Mouth Guards
If your tooth sensitivity is accompanied by jaw soreness and aching when you first wake up in the morning, the sensitivity could be caused by grinding your teeth as you sleep. A fitted mouth guard prevents damage to your teeth and relieves sensitivity.
Root Canal Treatment
For severe and reoccurring cases of tooth sensitivity, the cause may be an exposed or affected nerve inside the tooth, and a root canal treatment may be necessary to remove the nerve and solve the problem.
Lifestyle Changes
Changing your diet and lifestyle can positively affect tooth sensitivity. Using a non-abrasive toothpaste, a soft-bristled brush, and brushing your teeth less aggressively can help reduce tooth sensitivity. Avoiding acidic foods and beverages and quitting smoking can also help alleviate sensitivity.
When to See a Dentist
Many causes of tooth sensitivity are benign and temporary and tend to resolve themselves on their own. However, every case can have serious underlying causes. If your sensitivity lasts for more than a few days to a week, you should see a dentist to be certain it isn’t a symptom of a larger dental problem.
Visit About Tooth Dental Clinic
Visit our convenient Bangkok dental clinic near the BTS. About Tooth Dental Clinic has two locations in Bangkok. You can make an appointment at either our Siam Square branch on the 8th floor of SIAM SCAPE, Siam Square Soi 1, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, close to the BTS Siam Station, or our
Whizdom 101 branch, close to the BTS Punnawithi Station.
Stop having to deal with the daily misery of tooth sensitivity and ensure your pain is not a symptom of a more serious dental problem by making an appointment at About Tooth Dental Clinic today.
