If you experience dental sensitivity, don’t feel bad! Millions of patients around the world “suffer” from dental sensitivity. Fortunately, many times it is tied to completely harmless conditions (like genetics), but no matter the cause – it’s something you should start talking about with your nearest family dentist, because recognizing the cause of sensitivity early on will help you minimize discomfort and potentially prevent a more serious condition.
In general, the cause of sensitivity is simple. The inside of your Tooth is made up of a substance called dentin. Dentin contains tiny little tubes that are filled with nerve endings. Dentin is protected by enamel. When the enamel is worn away, the nerve endings can become exposed. When this happens, you will often feel it – and that can be a little uncomfortable at times.
So what causes this? It can actually be a number of things, some of which are relatively benign. Others can be quite serious.
What Causes Sensitive Teeth
Worn enamel: it’s easier than you think to wear your enamel down. In fact, some of the best dental patients do it without even realizing it by brushing too hard with too hard of a brush. To minimize this and prevent further damage, ease up on your trip and brush with a softer toothbrush. Also try sensitive toothpaste.
Tooth erosion: tooth erosion can be caused by frequently eating and drinking highly acidic foods and beverages. This is another way to wear down your enamel and expose the sensitive dentin on the inside. If teeth are becoming severely eroded, it might be necessary to crown them. Other times, halting the damage by changing habits and diet is all that is required.
Tooth decay and other dental damage: teeth that have severe decay or broken fillings can easily expose the dentin, making sensitivity an uncomfortable reality. Sometimes, all you need to solve this problem is a filling, other times the sensitivity could be a symptom of a more serious problem requiring restorative dental work like a crown or root canal treatment.
Gum recession: receding gums can leave the surface of your root exposed, causing potentially uncomfortable sensitivity. This is caused from a number of factors, ranging from over-brushing to periodontal disease. In some cases, your dentist might recommend a gum graft to protect your Tooth and alleviate the sensitivity.
Grinding: grinding your teeth at night is a sure fire way to grind away the enamel and expose the root to sensitivity. In many cases, your dentist will recommend a night guard to protect your teeth while you sleep.
No matter what is causing your dental sensitivity, rest assured that it is almost always manageable, treatable, or even temporary. But don’t just live with the condition. If you’ve ever wondered, “is there a dentist near me that can help?” – The answer is yes!