Tooth Sensitivity - How to Prevent It with Ease
Tooth sensitivity can strike at any time.
It doesn’t matter who you are or, in some cases, even how well you take care of your teeth. An estimated 11.5% of people in the U.S. suffer from some form of sensitivity.
If you’re one of the nearly 38 million people struggling with tooth sensitivity, our hearts go out to you. We understand how scary sensitivity can be (“Oh no, what’s wrong with my teeth? Do I need a root canal?”). Or how it can take the joy out of some of life’s most enjoyable moments like eating your favorite foods or having fun outdoors during the winter months.
Today, we’re going to look at the causes of sensitivity and provide some tips that will help you not just treat your symptoms but prevent them completely.
What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?
To fully understand why your teeth are sensitive, we must look at two things. First, the anatomy of your teeth. Second, the type of sensitivity you’re experiencing.
Onto the anatomy lesson.
Your teeth are made up of three parts.
The outer layer, which is the strongest, is called enamel. The enamel covers the part of the tooth that’s exposed in your mouth but does not cover the roots of your teeth.
The next layer is called dentin. Dentin is not as strong as enamel because it is made up of dentin tubules, small tubes that allow nutrients to get into the pulp chambers of the teeth.
And that’s the third part of the tooth – the pulp chamber, which is home to the pulp (often called the nerve) of your tooth, made up of nerve tissue, as well as connective, lymphatic, and connective tissues.
Tooth sensitivity is caused by irritation of one of these three layers, most often the dentin and pulp.
Are Your Teeth Sensitive to Cold?
This is the most common type of tooth sensitivity. Typically, the reason for cold sensitivity is enamel wear, which leads to exposed dentin. When the dentin tubules are exposed, cold air and foods/beverages have a more direct line to the pulp chamber. When the pulp tissue feels cold, it becomes irritated and causes the tooth or teeth to throb.
Oftentimes, enamel wear is due to:
- Eating acidic foods
- Consuming sugary foods/beverages
- Bruxism (clenching and grinding your teeth)
- Acid reflux
- Bulimia
- Low salivary flow
Is a Tooth Sensitive to Heat?
Heat sensitivity is something that you should tell your West Covina dentist about right away. While in some instances heat sensitivity can be caused by enamel wear, most often the cause is damaged pulp tissue.
When the pulp is infected or irritated/inflamed and starts to die, the tooth becomes sensitive to heat. In these cases, the tooth becomes abscessed and extremely sensitive to hot, cold, and bite pressure.
For the most part, people who experience this type of sensitivity only experience one tooth that’s sensitive to heat, not multiple teeth. If you experience this type of sensitivity – especially if it lingers for more than a few seconds – contact your West Covina dentist right away.
What If Your Teeth Are Sensitive to Sugar or Acidic Foods?
Sensitivity to acidic foods is another sign of enamel wear. It can also be a sign of dental decay. Sensitivity to sweet foods is almost always a sign that you have a cavity (though sometimes it is simply a sign of enamel wear or root surface exposure). You can’t tell the depth of the cavity by how much sensitivity you experience. Some people have small areas of decay and experience sensitivity. Others don’t experience it until the cavity is much deeper.
Can You Prevent Tooth Sensitivity?
No one wants to deal with tooth sensitivity. Thankfully, you don’t have to. We learned what causes sensitivity, now we just need to make sure we prevent those things from happening.
Enamel Wear and Exposed Dentin
Here are some of the causes of enamel wear and exposed dentin and how your West Covina dentist can help prevent them from happening.
- Bruxism: Clenching and grinding your teeth wears down the enamel but it doesn’t automatically result in tooth sensitivity. If your dentist notices signs of bruxism (small wear facets in the enamel), they can recommend treatment and lifestyle changes that can reduce the damage. For instance, they may recommend finding ways to reduce stress like meditation and exercise, as well as wearing a mouthguard over your teeth while you sleep.
- Erosion: Erosion is often caused by the foods we eat, including sugary or acidic foods and beverages. You can reduce your risk of erosion by limiting these foods. You might also start using a straw to drink your favorite sugary or acidic beverages (iced mochas or orange juice, for example) to limit enamel exposure to these substances.
- Abrasion: Abrasion can lead to gum recession and exposed root surfaces, which don’t have protective enamel. Dentin is highly susceptible to decay, as well as sensitivity. You can reduce the likelihood that you experience abrasion and gum recession by only using soft-bristled toothbrushes, avoiding using your teeth as tools, running your toothbrush bristles under warm water to soften them even more before brushing, and taking steps to avoid gum disease.
Dental Decay
It seems like everyone has a filling – but this doesn’t have to be the case for you. Even if you have a few fillings, you can take steps to prevent future cavities. Here are some steps that will help:
- Brush thoroughly twice a day
- Floss at least once a day
- Reduce sugary foods
- Reduce sticky foods (like dried fruit)
- Eat nutrient-dense foods (to build up immune health and strengthen the teeth)
- Get fluoride treatments
- Visit your dentist twice a year for cleanings and check-ups
- Consider getting dental sealants
Infected or Inflamed Pulp
Causes of infected or inflamed pulp include:
- Deep dental decay
- A deep crack in the tooth
- A fractured tooth
- Bruxism
- Trauma
While you might not be able to prevent trauma, you can prevent dental decay and prevent a cracked tooth from getting worse. One of the reasons your West Covina dentist wants to see you regularly is to evaluate not only for gum disease and decay but also to check for things like cracks in the teeth.
A crack is like a conduit between the pulp of your tooth and the outside world. It isn’t uncommon to experience bite pressure and cold sensitivity if you have a cracked tooth. This is called cracked tooth syndrome. However, some people never experience symptoms of a cracked tooth, which is why you need to see your dentist.
If your provider notices a crack, they’ll likely recommend a dental crown. A crown will stabilize the crack and add extra support to prevent it from getting worse.
How Regular Visits to Your West Covina Dentist Can Help Prevent Tooth Sensitivity
Visiting your West Covina dentist is another way to help prevent tooth sensitivity. Regular visits (every six months) allow your dentist to constantly evaluate your teeth. They’ll check for signs of:
- Enamel wear
- Cracked teeth
- Exposed root surfaces
- Early decay
- TMJ disorder
Treating these conditions early will not only help prevent sensitivity – they’ll help prevent chronic pain and major dental conditions that can result in the need for expensive restorative dental treatment.
And if you do start experiencing some sensitivity, your West Covina dentist can provide sensitive teeth treatment to help you get relief fast.
Are you experiencing tooth sensitivity? We can help! Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
