If you ever bit into a sugary or cold food and felt a sharp bolt of pain in your tooth, you know what tooth sensitivity feels like. Though the pain will fade fairly quickly, it can feel excruciating.
You do not have to tolerate this oral discomfort. Contact your dentist about this symptom as soon as you can. It could point to a severe dental problem that will require urgent evaluation and treatment from your dentist.
You can feel more encouraged to take action about this type of tooth pain when you know more about it. Read on to find responses from your dentist to frequently asked questions regarding tooth sensitivity.
What Makes My Teeth Feel Sensitive?
Tooth sensitivity pain occurs due to a weakening or deterioration of the hard outer layer of your tooth, enamel. Enamel serves as a shield for the vulnerable interior of the tooth, which contains nerves. If enamel sustains damage, nerves become exposed to outside threats.
If a stimulus, such as food, touches these nerves, they transmit pain signals to the brain. Though the pain stops without stimulation, the enamel will still remain thin and weak. Enamel will not regrow on its own.
Enamel may erode or wear down for a number of reasons, including larger dental problems like tooth decay. So do not ignore this symptom. Seek relief and restore your oral health with help from your dentist.
How Can My Dentist Treat Sensitive Teeth?
Treatment for tooth sensitivity will depend on the cause of this symptom. For instance, a cavity can make a tooth feel sensitive. The dentist will remove the decay and fill the resulting hole to treat the cavity which will resolve the pain.
Tooth sensitivity can also occur due to enamel erosion. This loss of enamel may happen when you consume acidic foods and drinks or due to habits like tooth grinding. In either case, a dentist cannot regenerate the enamel, but they might replace it.
The dentist can employ a dental crown to cover the damaged tooth. The ceramic cap seals into place to create a new shield over the tooth.
This stops further harm from affecting the tooth and prevents external elements from reaching nerves in the tooth to create painful sensitivity. With proper care, the crown can protect the tooth for fifteen years or more.
Can I Prevent Tooth Sensitivity?
You can prevent enamel loss and therefore tooth sensitivity by taking care of your smile. This includes at-home efforts like good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily to remove plaque in a timely manner so that it does not eat away and weaken your smile.
To maximize your oral hygiene, visit your dentist for regular teeth cleanings and oral exams too. The dentist will ensure your smile gets thoroughly clean and can spot potential issues that might hurt your teeth before they progress. Ask your dentist for more preventative oral health care advice at your next appointment.