Does having a bite of your favourite ice-cream leave you with a throbbing pain? Do you occasionally wince while brushing or flossing your teeth?
If the answer to any of these questions is a YES, you might have sensitive teeth. Dentine sensitivity or sensitive teeth is a common dental condition that can develop over the years, as a result of eroding enamel and receding gum line.
Scroll down to find out more about teeth sensitivity!
Tooth sensitivity is a condition marked by sharp, sudden and intense pain in one or more teeth when you eat or drink something cold or hot.
This dental condition occurs when the soft inner part of your tooth called dentin becomes exposed.
What is Teeth Sensitivity?
Healthy teeth have a protective layer of enamel that keeps the crown (the part above the gum line) safe from wear and tear. Beneath the gum line, there’s a layer called cementum that protects your tooth root. A lesser dense layer called dentine lies under the enamel and cementum and contain millions of microscopic tubules*.
* Tubules are small hollow tubes or canals.
When dentin loses the preventive cover of enamel or cementum, these tubules gets exposed, allowing hot, cold, acidic and even sticky food to reach the nerves inside the tooth. Result? – Sharp and sudden pain.
What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?
There are numerous reasons that are responsible for sensitive teeth. Here are some of the most common reasons:
- Cavities or tooth decay
- Fractured or chipped teeth
- Worn-out fillings
- Periodontitis
- Eroded tooth enamel
- Exposed tooth root
How to Prevent Teeth Sensitivity?
The best part of tooth sensitivity pain is that you don’t have to live with it! Fortunately, there are numerous precautionary measures that help you prevent the condition. Here are a few simple preventive measures to keep tooth sensitivity at bay:
- Enamel can wear off if you brush your teeth too zealously. Make sure you brush your teeth gently and use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Use desensitising toothpaste regularly. These contain compounds that are effective enough to remove the plaque and clean teeth while provides quick relief from sensitivity.
- Brush and floss your teeth twice a day to avoid gum loss.
- Take good care of your overall oral health. Make sure to clean all parts of your mouth, including the ones between teeth and along the gum line.
- Stay away from acidic foods and drinks.
If sensitivity is severe and persistent for a long time, visit your dentist to get a professional solution for this problem.
