Long Ridge Dental BLOG

6 Tips for Fighting Tooth Sensitivity

By: | Tags: | Comments: 0 | November 2nd, 2015

Do your teeth hurt every time you take a scoopful of ice cream or sip on a cup of coffee?

Are you extra watchful before putting anything in your mouth because the thought of the sharp pain makes you cringe?

If your response is a ‘yes’ then you are suffering from a dental problem called ‘Tooth Sensitivity’! It affects the eating and drinking habits of people; even breathing in a gush of cold air can make the sensitive teeth sting with pain.

So, what is Tooth Sensitivity?

Tooth sensitivity occurs when the outer protective layer around the teeth – enamel, is depleted, exposing the tender layer at the surface of your tooth, known as dentine. Dentine consists of thousands of tiny tubes having nerve endings filled with fluid. These fluids trigger every time you eat or drink something; putting pressure on the teeth can also cause the pain.

Apart from this, many other things can cause tooth sensitivity such as gum diseases, wear and tear of enamel, tooth decay, plaque, intake of acidic food, brushing too hard, teeth clenching, broken teeth, etc.

Tooth sensitivity is the most common problem among the dental patients. However, the good news is that it is curable. There are dental treatments available that can cure the sensitive teeth. However, instead of seeing the dentist, you can follow these simple tips to alleviate the sensitivity of your teeth:

Change Your Toothpaste

The first change that you need in your life is the change of toothpaste. Normal toothpastes contain sweet and mint flavor that can make your teeth sting or worsen your sensitivity issue. There are different medicated toothpastes available that are specially designed for sensitive teeth. These toothpastes contain potassium nitrate that can black the tubes in the dentin. Moreover, try to pick the toothpaste that has fluoride as it helps in intensification the tooth enamel.

Alter Your Brushing Habit

After changing your toothpaste, you also need to alter your brushing habit because if your brushing technique is wrong then it could harm your teeth. Instead of brushing in a back-and-forth motion, you should brush your teeth in a circular motion; this avoids your gums to recede. Moreover, make sure you don’t brush too hard as it can damage the protective layer around your teeth.

Avoid Cold Water

Cold water makes your teeth sting with pain. Hence, you should use warm water not only while brushing but also for drinking.

Avoid Acidic Food

Drinks and foods are sugary and acidic can erode the tooth enamel, intensifying the tooth sensitivity. Hence, you should me very careful about what you eat and drink. Avoid too much consumption of pastries, wine, sodas, chocolates, citrus fruits etc.

Don’t Clench Your Teeth

Every time you grit your teeth, you are putting pressure on them. This can weaken the enamel and expose the tiny tubes at the surface of your tooth.

Take Dentist’s Advice

If you have sensitive teeth then despite of doing everything mentioned above, you should regularly see the dentist and have your teeth checked. The dentist can advise you regarding what toothpaste and toothbrush to use and guide you about the necessary dental treatments can strengthen your teeth to reduce tooth sensitivity.

By incorporating these little changes in your lifestyles, you can easily fight the tooth sensitivity problem and save yourself from a lot of pain.

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