Sensitive Teeth: What Can Be Done?

When you eat foods that have a hot or cold temperature, do you feel sharp and sudden bursts of pain? You may also experience the discomfort while eating highly acidic or flavoursome foods, or even when brushing your teeth. If so, this type of pain is most likely due to tooth sensitivity.

At our dentist Central Coast we regularly see to patients who have sensitive teeth. Although this is a common issue experienced by much of the community, many people don’t understand what causes tooth sensitivity and what should be done to fix the issue. We’ve answered some of the critical questions regarding tooth sensitivity below.

What causes sensitive teeth?

Tooth sensitivity can be caused by several things. The most common causes of sensitive teeth are:

• Worn tooth enamel
• Exposed tooth roots
• Tooth cavity
• Gum disease (such as gingivitis and periodontitis)
• Worn fillings
• Tooth grinding
• Chopped or cracked teeth

In almost all cases, tooth sensitivity is caused by worn tooth enamel or exposed tooth roots. The pain occurs when the hot or cold food makes contact with your tooth or tooth roots.

To protect your tooth enamel, you should avoid carbonated drinks, acidic liquids, and overconsumption of citrus fruits. If you grind your teeth, you may choose to wear a mouth guards at night-time to protect your teeth enamel from wearing. You should also continue with good oral hygiene practices, such as brushing your teeth twice per day, flossing daily, and regularly seeing your dental clinic near me.

How can sensitive teeth be treated?

Tooth sensitivity isn’t fun, so it makes sense to be proactive and try to reduce the pain experienced when you consume certain foods. The only way to effectively treat your sensitive teeth is by visiting your dental clinic near me. A dental clinic near me will be able to provide tailored advice that is specific to your circumstances.

The recommendations from your dentist may be as simple as changing to a different toothpaste, or they may be more complex and involve dental procedures. Depending on the cause of your sensitive teeth, your dentist Gosford may suggest:

• De-sensitising toothpaste (designed to block or lessen pain when you eat hot or cold foods)
• Fluoride application (to rebuild your enamel)
• Restorative dentistry (to fix damaged or decaying teeth)
• Root canal treatment (to treat problems in your tooth’s core)
• Surgical gum graft (to cover and protect exposed tooth roots)

If you would like to book a dental appointment with one of our Gosford dentists, contact our dental clinic on (02) 4322 6617 or email us at info@coastaldental.com.au. During your general check-up, be sure to mention to your dentist near me that you’ve been experiencing tooth sensitivity. Your dentist Central Coast will then be able to recommend the best steps for reducing or eliminating your pain.

We are also a reputable emergency dentist Central Coast, cosmetic dentist Central Coast and teeth whitening dentist, so you can get all your dental needs in one place. For a dental clinic near me, touch base with our friendly team or visit our Facebook or Instagram page.