Teeth sensitivity is seriously frustrating. It impairs your ability to enjoy the most basic of things; hot coffee, ice cream, orange juice and more are all off-limits. All risk causing you sharp, unbearable pain in your teeth. So if you’ve found yourself asking ‘Why are my teeth sensitive?’ and what you can do about it, read on.
What Causes Teeth To Be Sensitive?
There are many causes of teeth sensitivity. More often than not, tooth sensitivity is caused by worn tooth enamel or exposed tooth roots. There can be other reasons, however, such as:
- Cavities
- Cracked teeth
- Chipped teeth
- Aged or compromised fillings, crowns or bonding
- Gum disease
- Infection or abscess in the tooth
How Can I Reduce Tooth Sensitivity?
Your first step should always be a trip to the dentist to allow proper diagnosis for the cause of the sensitivity. They can then recommend the best course of action, this may include:
- The use of desensitising toothpastes, these work by soothing nerve pain and helping build a protective fluoride layer to avoid further pain.
- Fluoride treatments to strengthen the enamel, you may also need to continue treatment at home via prescription-strength fluoride.
- Bonding the tooth or teeth. Using a local anesthetic, the tooth will be coated with a bonding resin to cover the sensitive surface. This is a more permanent solution.
- A root canal, if the cause is due to deeper issues in the pulp of the tooth, your dentist may recommend a root canal to overcome this.
- Gum grafting, this is where a small piece of healthy gum is grafted onto an area when your gums have receded from the tooth. This repairs issues from exposed roots.
If you are experiencing pain from tooth sensitivity, we can help you find the solution. Contact the experts at Alexandra Hills Dental today on 07 3824 4488
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