Tooth Sensitivity and You
Do you experience tooth sensitivity? Many Australians experience the inconvenience and discomfort of tooth sensitivity. Statistics released by the Australian Research Authority indicate that one in five main grocery buyers aged 14 years and older buys sensitive toothpaste over six months.
This means they feel something wrong with their teeth – either pain or sensitivity.
Sufferers might not know what is behind their tooth sensitivity, for tooth sensitivity is a symptom and not a problem. They might not be aware that various treatments are appropriate to different cases to 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 West Ryde dentists to discover and treat the underlying reasons for the sensitivity.
Our treatments have proven successful in relieving tooth pain, sensitive teeth, and gum pain. Below, we offer a list of the causes of teeth sensitivity and possible cures—some at home and some in the 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 due to receding gums.
The exposed areas (the areas beneath) respond immediately and uncomfortably to extreme temperatures in the mouth and sometimes to sweet and spicy foods.
Some factors that can contribute to tooth sensitivity include:
- Too eager brushing: Brushing your teeth while pressing too hard or 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 expose the dentin.
- Dental cleanings or treatments.
- Whitening: Sometimes, 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, exposing vulnerable roots.
- Chipped or cracked teeth: A chipped or cracked tooth can lead to invisible cracks/openings in 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, such as consistent quality brushing and flossing, is the path to good dental health and defends against many causes of tooth sensitivity.
Your West Ryde dentist may also suggest some of the following approaches:
Use desensitising toothpaste. It is sold over the counter at most stores and pharmacies and contains chemicals specifically designed to fill the exposed tubules in the dentin.
Try sodium fluoride gel, also known as desensitising gel. This preventative treatment strengthens teeth and increases their resistance to acidic foods and bacteria. If these gels are not available locally, they can be found online.
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. A toothbrush’s helpful lifespan is three to four months.
Clean your teeth after eating. This removes bacteria that might otherwise take hold and attack enamel. Cleaning includes brushing and flossing, but rinse your mouth with water if possible.
Avoid clamping down, avoid hard candies, and get treatment if you grind your teeth. 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 dentist can do
If tooth sensitivity remains, your dentist 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.
Sensitive Teeth Treatment in West Ryde
My Local Dentist services and treatments are 100% personalised to you and your needs.
Our dental team 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 incredibly talented, dedicated, and experienced. Working together, we ensure that each visit with us is as pleasant as possible.
GAP FREE Promotion for New Patients
GAP FREE: General Check-up, Scale and Clean, X-rays and Fluoride treatment (with any health insurance)
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.