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Many people suffer from tooth sensitivity. The pain that suddenly shoots through your jaw like a flash of lightning can ruin your most enjoyable moments.
How can you tell if you have sensitive teeth?
One sip of cold lemonade, a sugary candy, a spoonful of hot soup, or a bite of a sour apple—and the sharp pain strikes. This pain is so uncomfortable that you no longer dare put anything in your mouth.
Tooth sensitivity is not considered a dental disease. Rather, it is a symptom that should be taken seriously and treated as soon as possible.
Tooth sensitivity occurs when certain external stimuli trigger severe, usually sudden pain that does not subside.
What causes tooth sensitivity?
Several factors may be responsible for your tooth sensitivity, so it is important to identify the main cause in order to address this hypersensitivity effectively.
1. Your enamel is weakened:
The upper, exposed part of the tooth (the visible part above the gumline) is covered by a kind of hard, mineral-rich protective cap. This dental enamel, which is in fact the hardest part of our body, protects the softer dentin underneath, as well as all the nerves, blood vessels, and fibers located in the dental pulp.
When your enamel is damaged, your teeth become more exposed and therefore react more sensitively to external stimuli such as:
- Hot and cold foods and drinks;
- Sweet, salty, and sour foods;
- Brushing your teeth;
- Cold air entering your mouth.
2. Your gums have receded:
The most common cause of tooth hypersensitivity is gum disease, also known as gum recession, caused by poor oral hygiene. In most cases, it is not the frequency that matters, but rather poor cleaning technique.
Rough brushing with horizontal movements literally makes the tooth enamel and gum tissue more sensitive.
If you use this incorrect brushing technique for a long time, not only will the gum tissue erode, but your entire enamel will also be affected. Tiny channels open in the less-protected dentin around the neck of the tooth, increasing sensitivity.
Receding gums can also be caused by specific dental diseases, misaligned teeth, or hormonal changes, for example during pregnancy.
Gum recession is an insidious problem: at first, it is extremely difficult to notice this gradual phenomenon. Only over time do the symptoms become apparent, and they should be reported to your dentist immediately.
3. Other causes of tooth sensitivity:
Tooth sensitivity is not only caused by enamel abrasion or excessive friction during toothbrushing.
The following factors can also cause tooth sensitivity:
- Excessive mouthwash use;
- Highly chemical toothpastes or treatments;
- Teeth grinding against each other;
- Cavities;
- Excessive consumption of acidic foods and drinks…
How can you prevent pain or treat tooth hypersensitivity?
There are ways to protect your teeth and rebuild your gums. Here are some tips if you suffer from tooth sensitivity:
- Have regular preventive dental care:
Frequent gum recession is the result of periodontitis. Chronic inflammation spreads from the teeth to the gums and attacks the tissue.
Only periodontal treatment and regular preventive appointments at short intervals can help combat inflammation. If necessary, gum grafts are available.
- Treat teeth grinding:
When you grind your teeth at night, enormous pressure is placed on your teeth and gums. Over the long term, the surfaces of the teeth wear down. The gums are affected as well.
You should therefore protect your teeth from further damage with a splint. This also protects the gums, as the splint acts as a shock absorber. In the long term, however, you should address the underlying causes of nighttime teeth grinding. It generally makes sense to work on stress management.
- Change your toothbrushing technique:
Many people think that brushing hard and vigorously can make their teeth cleaner. However, this is not true. Pressing hard with the brush head can damage your gums. Instead, it is better to brush from the gums toward the tooth using light pressure. There are also special electric toothbrushes that emit an alarm when you press too hard on the brush.
- Use a suitable toothpaste:
You should only clean your teeth with toothpaste containing fluoride. This generally applies to everyone—but especially to people with sensitive teeth. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and makes it more resistant to acids in food and drinks.
Under no circumstances should you use whitening toothpastes, as they generally contain many abrasive substances and make tooth enamel rough.
Finally, you should limit your consumption of acidic foods and drinks, as well as exposure to very extreme temperatures.
