Sensitive Teeth: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

Do you feel a sudden discomfort/pain in your teeth when devouring anything hot or cold or while brushing them? Well, it may be a symptom of sensitive teeth, a common problem in most people. While it can be a temporary or a chronic issue, it can affect several teeth or a single tooth.

In this article, we will discuss tooth sensitivity, its causes, and its treatments. Read more to know about the symptoms.

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What Is Tooth Sensitivity?

Dentin hypersensitivity, commonly known as tooth sensitivity, happens when the dentin or the underlying layer of your tooth is exposed. Additionally, when the tissue in your gums pulls away from your enamel, they expose the roots and cause sensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth lead to unusual discomfort and sharp pain when exposed to hot or cold temperatures.

Most people have a query as to the reason behind teeth sensitivity. Here is the answer.

Your teeth roots that are not covered by enamel contain several tiny tubules that lead to the centre of your tooth named pulp. These channels allow hot or cold temperatures to reach the nerves in the teeth, so you feel that sudden pain.

What Are the Symptoms of Tooth Sensitivity?

If you are thinking about how to understand whether you have a sensitive tooth, here are some signs and symptoms of sensitive teeth that you must consider:

Sudden pain or discomfort while eating hot or cold food and beverages. This stays for a few minutes and subdues. However, it can appear anytime again.
You might feel a tang of pain while brushing or flossing. The pain might be gentle to severe and lasts for a few minutes before fading away.
In addition, you might feel pain when your teeth are exposed to cold air or cold water, especially during routine dental cleanings.
You can also feel the pain while consuming sweets or food containing more sugar.
Teeth sensitivity happens when you eat acidic food or rinse your mouth with an alcohol-based mouthwash.

Now that you know what tooth sensitivity is, let’s move further to the causes of tooth sensitivity.

What Causes Sensitive Teeth?

Several factors point toward the cause of tooth sensitivity. However, causes of sensitive teeth include:

Recession of Gums: If you are genetically prone to thin gum tissue, the gums tend to pull away from the teeth, exposing the roots. This is one of the major causes of tooth sensitivity. In addition, many people develop gum recession issues due to frequent periodontal disease.
Gum Disease: If you have sore or inflamed gum tissue, this can cause tooth sensitivity. This happens as the supporting ligaments break, exposing the surface of the roots that directly connect the nerves of your tooth.
Rigorous Brushing: Rigorous brushing using a hard bristled toothbrush wears down your enamel, exposing the dentin. This leads to recession of your gums and the tissue pulling away from your teeth.
Broken Teeth: Chipped or cracked teeth might fill with bacteria causing plaque to enter your tooth pulp. This will lead to severe pain and inflammation. Furthermore, the presence of plaque and tartar on the roots of your teeth causes sensitivity.
Teeth Grinding: Clenching or continuously grinding the teeth will wear and tear the enamel and expose the dentin underneath.
Products of Teeth Whitening: A significant reason for tooth sensitivity might be using teeth whitening products. They contain peroxide that can irritate your tooth, leading to sensitivity.
Consuming Acidic Food: When you regularly consume food having high acid content such as pickles, tea, citrus fruits, etc., they cause enamel erosion exposing the dentin. This leads to tooth sensitivity after that.
Dental procedures: You might have sensitive teeth post dental fillings, dental restoration, and dental cleanings. However, these are temporary and subdue within a week or two.
Mouthwash: If you have exposed dentin, certain mouthwashes can worsen teeth sensitivity. In that case, using a neutral fluoride solution can be an ideal choice.

Now that you know what is the reason for teeth sensitivity, you should avoid the above to prevent that unusual feeling during sensitivity.

How to Reduce Tooth Sensitivity?

To reduce risks of teeth sensitivity, here are the following ways you must consider:

Use Desensitised Toothpaste: Several brands of toothpaste are available in the market for sensitive teeth. Regularly use the same to notice a decrease in tooth sensitivity. Also, you can smear a thin film of toothpaste on the exposed tooth roots before going to bed every day. Ensure to use toothpaste that contains fluoride.
Use a Soft-bristled Toothbrush: Soft-bristled toothbrushes will not lead to rigorous brushing and will not irritate your gums while brushing as well.
Follow Proper Oral Hygiene: Proper oral care reduces the chances of tooth sensitivity as it deeply cleans the teeth and in between the enamels. Ensure to brush and floss regularly twice a day or after every meal.
Eat Healthy Food: Avoid consuming highly acidic food, which might gradually disrupt the tooth enamel. This will further lead to exposure to dentin, aggravating tooth sensitivity and pain.
Use Dental Products With Fluoride: To decrease sensitivity rinse your mouth with a mouthwash that contains fluoride.
Avoid Grinding Your Teeth: If teeth grinding is a persistent issue, use a mouth guard at night to avoid wearing your enamels due to the problem.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly: Routine dental check-ups and cleanings reduce the chances of oral problems. This, therefore, lessens tooth sensitivity as well.

What Are the Treatments Available for Tooth Sensitivity?

There are a number of causes of sensitive teeth. It, therefore, can be treated through several procedures and treatments. Treatments for sensitive teeth include:

1. Dental Bonding

A dental procedure, dental bonding uses a composite resin of tooth colour to repair the chips and cracks in your teeth. Dental bonding also seals the gaps and helps change your tooth's structure. Unlike other dental restorations, dental bonding is a reversible process.

2. Dentin Sealer

It is a cavity varnish and an excellent sealant for endodontic processes. Dentin sealer is a temporary protectant used to repair exposed root surfaces.

3. Fluoride Varnish

It is a dental treatment that your dentist conducts to treat tooth decay. Fluoride in fluoride varnish is a mineral that strengthens your tooth enamel. However, fluoride varnish cannot treat cavities.

4. Root Canal Treatment

Your dentist might suggest root canal treatment to cure sensitive teeth. This is one of the most successful solutions to eliminate tooth sensitivity.

5. Surgical Gum Grafting

In case the roots of your tooth have lost their tissue, your dentist will take a small section of gum tissue from any other section of your mouth and treat the critical area. This will cover the exposed roots and subdue the sensitivity.

What Are the Risk Factors of Tooth Sensitivity?

Tooth sensitivity is curable if you seek proper treatment while the situation has not worsened. However, certain risks associated with tooth sensitivity include:

Pus or discharge from gums and teeth
A sudden change of taste
Swelling of gums and redness
Severe pain in facial muscles and jawline
Trismus or unable to open your mouth

When you notice these risks, it is best to consult a dentist immediately.

So, now you are aware of sensitive teeth and have detailed information about the same. However, if you notice lingering dental discomfort due to sensitivity, appropriate treatment is a must. Tooth sensitivity can also signify related dental issues such as cavities or severe gum disease. Whatever the cause, your dentist is the right person to treat you in this regard.

Frequently Asked Questions

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How long will it take to recover from a sensitive tooth?

If you consult a dentist immediately after noticing these symptoms, your doctor will treat you, and you will recover within two to three weeks. However, post-dental care is necessary to ensure healthy oral care.

What are some home remedies to treat tooth sensitivity?

Chewing guava leaves, treating with clove oil, rinsing with hydrogen peroxide, and rinsing with lukewarm salt water are home remedies you can apply to treat sensitive teeth.