Many Australians undergo the inconvenience and discomfort of tooth sensitivity. Statistics released by the Australian research authority, indicate that one in every five main grocery buyers aged 14 years and older buy sensitive toothpaste during an average six-month period.
This means they feel something wrong with their teeth – either pain or sensitivity
What sufferers might not know is what is behind their tooth sensitivity, for tooth sensitivity is a symptom and not a problem on its own. And they might not be aware that My Local Dentists West Ryde has a variety of treatments, appropriate to different cases, that help treat sensitivity.
While tooth sensitivity can be intermittent, appearing and disappearing without reason, the appearance of tooth sensitivity is a sign that you should immediately visit your My Local Dentists West Ryde to discover and treat the underlying reasons for the sensitivity.
At My Local Dentists West Ryde, our treatments have proven to be successful in relieving tooth pain, sensitive teeth, and gum pain. Below, we offer you a list of the causes of teeth sensitivity and possible cures – some at home and some in-office.
What Causes Sensitive Teeth?
“Tooth sensitivity” is discomfort or pain in one or more teeth. The discomfort/pain of tooth sensitivity is usually sudden, sharp, and often described as shooting. The cause of tooth sensitivity is always the same – it comes when the layer of a tooth underneath the enamel (the dentin) or the layer covering the tooth root (cementum) is exposed along the gum line as a result of receding gums.
The exposed areas (actually the areas beneath) respond immediately and uncomfortably to extreme temperatures in the mouth, and sometimes too sweet and spicy foods.
Some factors which can contribute to tooth sensitivity include:
- Too eager brushing: Brushing your teeth while pressing too hard or while using a hard-bristled toothbrush, can wear down tooth enamel, leading to tooth sensitivity.
- Tooth grinding: Grinding teeth (often while sleeping) can cause the enamel to wear away and leave the dentin exposed.
- Dental cleanings or treatments.
- Whitening: In some cases, sensitivity can occur after a professional teeth-whitening treatment. This sensitivity typically goes away quickly.
- Gum disease: In advanced gum disease, the inflamed gum tissue pulls away from the tooth, leaving vulnerable roots exposed.
- Chipped or cracked teeth: A chipped or cracked tooth can lead to imperceptible cracks/openings to the areas below the enamel.
What are the Answers to Tooth Sensitivity?
Most answers to tooth sensitivity are based on common sense prevention. Preventative care like consistent quality brushing and flossing is the path to good dental health, and they are certainly also defences against many causes of tooth sensitivity.
Your West Ryde dentist may also suggest some of the following approaches:
Use desensitising toothpaste. Desensitising toothpaste is sold over the counter at most stores and pharmacies. It contains chemicals specifically designed to fill the exposed tubules in the dentin.
Try sodium fluoride gel, also known as desensitising gel. This is a preventative treatment used to strengthen teeth and increase their resistance to acidic foods and bacteria. These gels can be found online if they re not available nearby
Brush with a bit less vigour and with a new brush. Brush lightly with a new, soft-bristled toothbrush and don’t wait too long to replace it. Three to four months is the useful lifespan of a toothbrush.
Clean your teeth after eating. This removes bacteria that might otherwise take hold and attack enamel. Cleaning includes brushing and flossing, of course, but if that isn’t possible simply rinse your mouth with water.
Avoid clamping down. Avoid hard candies and if you grind your teeth, get treatment. Many people grind when they’re asleep, which is hard to stop. A nightly mouthguard is a great way to minimise the damage from grinding.
Don’t chew tobacco. If you do chew, you should know that it drastically recedes your gums and destroys your enamel.
What your West Ryde dentist can do
If tooth sensitivity remains, your My Local Dentists West Ryde can help:
- We might use fluoride or suggest the use of prescription fluoride at home.
- Desensitising or bonding. Exposed root surfaces can be treated by applying bonding resin to the sensitive root surfaces.
- Surgical gum graft. If your tooth root has lost gum tissue, a small amount of gum tissue can be taken from elsewhere in your mouth and attached to the affected site.
- Root canal. If your sensitive teeth cause severe pain and other treatments aren’t effective, your dentist might recommend a root canal. This is the last step.
My Local Dentists West Ryde Advantage
My Local Dentist’s (previously My Local Dentists West Ryde) services and treatments are 100% personalised to you and your personal needs.
Our dentists are highly motivated and accredited practitioners with graduate degrees from the University of Sydney.
Alongside our dentists, the supporting staff at My Local Dentists West Ryde are extremely talented, dedicated, and experienced. Working together, we ensure that each visit with us is as pleasant as possible.
GAP FREE Promotion for New Patients
We believe prevention is essential to a beautiful and healthy smile, and so we will do everything we can to minimise any barriers to visiting the dentist.
To achieve this, we do not charge a gap payment from any health fund for preventative services, and this includes your six-monthly check-up, scale and cleans, check-up X-rays, intraoral photos, personalised treatment plan and fluoride treatments.
*for new patients only
Call us on (02) 9809 7000 or book your appointment online TODAY!
We are located at Shop 20 West Ryde Marketplace, 14 Anthony Road in West Ryde.