Some of you might remember, as children, sinking your teeth into an iced lollipop with your friends and seeing who could stand the cold for the longest. If you did, you might find it more uncomfortable now than you did back then if your teeth are not as healthy as they might be. Tooth sensitivity can range from fairly mild discomfort to a sharp and instant pain. If this is something that you currently experience when eating or drinking hot or cold products, this should not be ignored, even if the discomfort is relatively mild.
A healthy tooth with healthy tooth enamel should prevent this experience. If you are noticing some sensitivity, then you should see your dentist to have the tooth checked. There is little point in tolerating discomfort caused in this way, but also, it could be a sign that all is not well with your teeth.
Let us take a look at some of the possible causes of sensitive teeth along with some treatment options.
This is one of the most likely causes of sensitive teeth and one that seems to be increasing over recent years. It usually occurs when teeth frequently come into contact with acidic food and drinks. These need not be unhealthy, and a good example of this is if you eat too many citrus fruits. In most cases though, the problem seems to be the increasing consumption of fizzy drinks, including sports and energy drinks. These are not only high in sugar but can be very acidic too.
Prevention is best here, and restricting acidic food and drinks will pay dividends. In some cases, the most effective way to resolve the problem once it has occurred, especially where the erosion is significant, is the fitting of teeth veneers to replace the damaged natural tooth enamel.
This can be caused by a number of factors, including simply growing older. One of the most preventable causes though is gum disease. This can cause the gums to recede which then expose the less well protected root sections of the teeth. Again, prevention is key here and by making regular six monthly appointments at our Staines dental practice with the hygienist, plus taking good care at home, this should be avoidable. In severe cases, gum grafting might be an option but this will need to be determined by the dentist at our local clinic.
Although we often associate pain from tooth decay with a painful toothache, this isn’t always the case and especially in its early stages. A small cavity which is present in the early stage may not have affected the nerves of the teeth yet but may have damaged the enamel enough for sensitivity to be felt. As with any discomfort, this should be seen as a warning signal that the problem could become more extensive and you should arrange to have it looked at by a dentist as soon as possible.
Any treatment for this will depend on the nature of the problem, but in the case of tooth decay, a filling is the most likely solution, especially in the early formation of a cavity. Tooth coloured fillings are available to make this look as natural as possible.
From time to time, we might damage our teeth by cracking or chipping them. This could be via an accident or perhaps even biting into something that was unexpectedly hard. It is quite possible that we might not even notice the damage until we feel some sensitivity in the tooth. If you do notice it though, do make sure to see the dentist. As with decay, leaving it will not only likely make any discomfort worse over time but could weaken the tooth and cause it to break away which would require more extensive treatment.
There are a number of treatment options for this which will depend on the severity of the damage. Fillings could be used, but for less invasive damage, we may be able to restore the tooth using composite bonding.
If you have had a tooth filled, using amalgam filling material, quite a while ago and start to notice that the tooth is sensitive when you eat, it may well be that the filling has started to wear away, or equally likely, that it has shrunk slightly. This is a known issue with amalgain in that it shrinks slightly over time and this can leave a gap between it and the natural tooth. This can expose the tooth to hot and cold temperatures and also allow bacteria to enter and cause further tooth decay. This is less likely to happen with white teeth fillings as they adhere well to the natural part of the tooth and don’t tend to shrink.
If this is the cause of your tooth sensitivity, you may need to have the tooth refilled.
The bottom line is that sensitive teeth can be quite painful and although you can reduce this discomfort with painkillers or desensitising toothpastes, this should not be your first course of action. Any problem, no matter how minor you might think it is, should always be checked out by one of the dentists at the Clarence Dental Practice. Early intervention is always preferable to prevent a problem from advancing and this applies to the issues mentioned in today’s blog.
If you have noticed an issue with tooth sensitivity or any other problem for that matter, please contact our Staines dental clinic by calling us today on 01784 463695.
Address: 21a Clarence Street, Staines upon Thames, Surrey, TW18 4SU
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