8 Ways to Deal with Sensitive Teeth
If you’ve got sensitive teeth, then you know how difficult it can be to truly enjoy the foods you love. The reasons teeth are so sensitive are either receded gums causing root exposure, or the enamel has worn away exposing the second layer of the tooth called dentin. Or you may have a crack in your tooth or worn filling. So, keep reading to learn how to deal with sensitive teeth!
Desensitizing Toothpaste
The most conservative treatment is to use a desensitizing toothpaste, like Sensodyne or Crest Sensitive. With regular use, this alone can sometimes be enough to help stop the pain. But once you stop using it, the sensitivity can return.
Fluoride Treatment
Applying fluoride can help strengthen your enamel while reducing sensitivity. Sometimes you need a custom fluoride tray made just for you. This way you can continue with at-home fluoride treatments to keep the sensitivity at bay.
In-Office Desensitizing Treatment
A dentist can place a special desensitizing material on your tooth, or exposed roots, to help alleviate the discomfort. Regular tooth brushing can wear it away, and it may have to be done annually to help keep you comfortable.
Composite Resin Bonding
Sometimes when the enamel is worn away at the gum, a direct composite resin (tooth colored) filling can be placed to eliminate the sensitivity. If the filling is on the root portion of the tooth, then a pink colored composite resin can be used so it matches the color of the gums and the tooth won’t look so big and long.
Surgical Gum Treatment
This is a last resort option if your gums have receded so much that your roots are exposed. It is a surgical treatment where gum is removed from your palate and then grafted over the exposed root. Healing is uncomfortable at the source of the graft, and sometimes the graft doesn’t cover the entire root once it has fully healed.
Invisalign
Sometimes, instead of a surgical gum graft, if the tooth has shifted or erupted so as to expose the root, then Invisalign (orthodontics) can be used to put it back in place. Then the gums can then grow naturally and cover the root thereby eliminating the sensitivity.
Night Guard
Stressful lives can cause you to grind your teeth. When you grind our teeth, you wear away the outer layer (enamel) on the teeth thereby exposing the second layer (dentin) and this can cause sensitivity. Wearing a night guard can help protect your teeth and minimize sensitivity in the long run.
Root Canal Treatment
A root canal treatment may be the only way to get rid of the sensitivity if none of the other more conservative treatments have been successful. This means that the source of the discomfort is coming directly from the nerve and it needs to be removed.
Remember, the best way to avoid sensitive teeth is to floss, brush at least twice a day and visit your dentist for regular check-ups. You can prevent sensitive teeth in a few ways. Try to avoid eating highly acidic foods that can wear away your enamel faster. Be sure to always use a soft bristle toothbrush and don’t brush too hard as that can cause your gums to recede leading to sensitivity. Try to reduce your stress to minimize tooth grinding and clenching.
Remember, a healthy smile is always in style!
Toot-a-loo,
Melisande J. Wolff, DMD, FAGD