Do hot or cold foods make your teeth ache? That’s the definition of tooth sensitivity. The pain may center on one tooth, or it may be multiple teeth. The question is: what does it mean? If you suffer from teeth sensitivity Phoenix AZ, you need to get it diagnosed and possibly treated.
Using a tooth sensitivity toothpaste may keep your teeth from hurting, but is the problem really under control? You deserve to know the underlying causes. The good news is that many causes are simple to address.
Stop Tooth Sensitivity Now
- Jumpstart Your Enamel
With a fluoride gel application, you may be able to harness your body’s healing process. This will slow down the loss of enamel and prompt it to repair naturally. The gel is simply painted on, left for a short time, and then rinsed off. Your Phoenix AZ dentist can do this at your next Sky Dental appointment.
Your enamel shield your teeth, preventing hot or cold from reaching the dentin inside your tooth. If it is wearing away, hot and cold can penetrate to the nerve and leave you hurting. This is often why teeth are sensitive.
- Restore Your Teeth
Obviously a cavity can cause a tooth to hurt. A filling will put that right. A severely decayed tooth may need a root canal before it feels good again. In either case, the sooner you act, the sooner the sensitivity will go away.
- Treat Your Gums
If you have the first stages of gum disease, you need a periodontal treatment to stop decay. These aren’t difficult treatments, and they can stop gum disease before it threatens your teeth.
Your gums cover cementum, a coating that performs a similar role to your enamel. If the gums are damaged, the cementum becomes vulnerable to decay. That leads to spots in your mouth where hot or cold can penetrate to the root and cause pain.
Have your teeth cleaned
Having regular checkups and getting your teeth cleaned are basic ways to protect yourself against tooth sensitivity. Plaque is the enemy, and teeth cleaning is the way to stop it.
Plaque is caused by food particles left on your teeth. Brushing several times a day and flossing at least once a day are important ways to prevent the causes of sensitivity.
- Discuss Your Brushing Habits with Your Hygienist
Many of us were lucky enough to be taught how to brush by our dental hygienist when we were kids. However, those lessons are long ago, if we had them at all. It’s never too late to learn.
Some people brush too hard or too often. Others don’t brush enough. You can get back on track by brushing and flossing appropriately every day. An electric toothbrush can help.
- Watch Your Diet
Talk to your dentist about strategies to deal with acidic foods. When possible, avoid them. If you do eat or drink acidic foods, rinse your mouth out afterwards. Soda, juice, smoothies, and other acidic drinks wear away your enamel. Acidic foods such as tomato sauce, salsa, and fruit also take their toll.
- Get a Mouth Guard
Many people clench and grind their teeth at night, and they don’t even know it. If this is happening, you can fight it. Your Sky Dental dentist can make you a mouth guard to wear at night. You’ll be surprised at how much better you will feel.
- Ask Your Dentist About Specialty Toothpaste
Your dentist should be consulted if you are using a sensitivity toothpaste. These can be very helpful, but you don’t want to mask symptoms that need treatment.
Now that you know more about teeth sensitivity causes and treatments, we recommend a phone call to your nearest Sky Dental office. Let us help you get sensitivity under control. The long-term health of your teeth may depend on it.