When it comes to oral health, many of us find ourselves putting things off until we experience discomfort. Only once our teeth start to hurt do we book that appointment with a dentist, enthusiastically searching for anything that can soothe our pain. Unfortunately, sensitive teeth is a widespread problem that most people experience at some point in their lives. Worst of all, the sensitivity can range from slightly irritating to excruciatingly painful – sometimes going from one side of the spectrum to the other within seconds!
Today, Advanced Indiana wants to help you uncover why your teeth are so sensitive. There are five well-known causes of sensitive teeth, and each comes with its own solution. After reading this article, you’ll have a better idea of what’s causing your sensitive teeth and how to bring the discomfort to an end.
Cause #1: Cavities or Leaking Restorations
If you’ve recently been told that you have a cavity, you may be tempted to put off getting it filled. Unfortunately, when you leave a cavity untreated, you open yourself up to the great potential for severe pain down the road. Tooth sensitivity is one of the significant symptoms of cavities. Simultaneously, suppose you’ve had a cavity filled or crowned a long time ago and now have sensitive teeth. In that case, you may need to get it replaced by your dentist before the sensitivity will go away.
Cause #2: Gingival Recession
Gingival recession refers to when the gum pulls back away from the tooth, leading to sensitive teeth. There are many gingival recession causes, including gum disease, bite problems, aggressive brushing, or clenching your teeth. So, what can you do if a gingival recession is to blame for your sensitive teeth? Some solutions you should know about include desensitizers, covering exposed areas with resin, varnishes, or, in the most extreme cases, a surgical grafting procedure.
Cause #3: Cracks in Teeth
When you experience cracking in your teeth, you may feel as though there isn’t much to worry about at the start. Unfortunately, cracks in the teeth are a problem that only grows more prominent over time. As cracks are left untreated, they grow. Eventually, this crack will work its way inside the tooth. When this happens, everything from cold to hot can cause sensitive teeth. Cracks in the teeth can be caused by stress may result from tooth grinding, ice crushing, or even general wear and tear. In this case, the best solution is to strengthen the tooth with a crown. When this is done, sensitivity usually subsides.
Cause #4: Whitening Toothpaste
Believe it or not, whitening toothpaste doesn’t contain any bleaching agents. Instead, what they do have are more abrasive particles. For this reason, while they’re good at getting stains off of your teeth, they also strip the enamel from the tooth. For those using whitening toothpaste consistently, this process will eventually cause the most sensitive inner layers of your teeth to become exposed over time. This leads to tooth sensitivity. Talk with your dentist about the use of whitening toothpaste if you’re noticing sensitive teeth. It may be time to switch to a different kind of toothpaste.
Cause #5: Bruxism
Bruxism is the number one cause of sensitive teeth. Bruxism can be described as the involuntary clenching and grinding of the teeth at night while you’re sleeping. Many people who suffer from bruxism have no idea that they’re clenching and grinding their teeth at night. Sensitive teeth are caused by bruxism because teeth have live nerves, and constant biting, clenching, and grinding can significantly irritate these nerves. When these nerves become irritated, it leads to sensitivity. The simplest solution to sensitive teeth caused by bruxism is a mouthguard.
Treat Sensitive Teeth at Advanced Indiana
Now that you know the five most common causes of sensitive teeth, you may be wondering how you can ease your discomfort before it gets worse. Advanced Indiana is here to soothe your sensitive teeth! Offering all of the dentistry services that you need to prioritize your oral health, our experts are here to help. Further, we know that sensitive teeth sometimes cause severe pain that simply can’t wait. For this reason, we’re happy to offer emergency dentistry in Anderson and Fortville, Indiana. Sensitive teeth are no match for our knowledgeable staff!
Contact us today at (765) 622-7000 (our Anderson office) or (317) 485-7000 (our Fortville office). You can also request an appointment online, and our staff will get back to you immediately. We look forward to helping you prioritize your oral health!