Sensitive Teeth
Do you feel a shooting pain in your teeth when eating or drinking something hot? Does the thought of biting into an ice cream or a cold, hard apple make you wince? Sensitive teeth can be a burden for many people and can be caused by a variety of factors. It is always important to seek advice from a dental professional so that the source of the problem can be identified and treated. There are several causes of sensitivity:
- Temporary pain can be experienced after tooth whitening procedures and is treated with over the counter painkillers.
- Dental attrition, or the loss of tooth enamel by tooth-to-tooth contact, from clenching and grinding, can cause cracks to form and propagate initially causing sensitivity but left unmanaged and untreated can ultimately cause teeth to split and break.
- Dental abrasion, or the loss of enamel by mechanical action other than tooth-to-tooth contact, can be caused tooth brushing habits (brushing too hard), biting hard objects like ice and nails, or whitening toothpastes.
- Dental erosion, or the loss of tooth enamel by acids, can also cause sensitivity. Enamel is the hard outer coating of a tooth that protects the sensitive dentine underneath. If enamel is worn away or eroded, this dentine is exposed which can lead to pain and sensitivity. This can be worsened with extreme temperatures. Erosion can be caused by external factors such as your diet (frequent consumption of high sugar or high acid food and/or drink), or internal factors like gastric reflux and eating disorders.
For top tips on protecting your enamel and for professional treatment of tooth sensitivity, come to the practice for an assessment and we will create an individualised care plan for you.
Life Benefits
- Being able to consume hot and cold drinks and food.
- Pain-free mouth.
- Reduced risk of further tooth wear.
All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you. Contact us for more information