Sensitive
Teeth
If you occasionally experience
a sudden flash of pain, or mild tingly feeling when you bite into sweet
or sour foods, or drink hot or cold beverages, you have
sensitive teeth.
Pain from sensitive teeth
is not always constant; it may come and go. Constant pain could be a sign
of a more serious problem. It is still important, however, to discuss your
symptoms with your dentist to determine the cause and treatment.
What causes sensitive
teeth?
In healthy teeth, porous tissue
called dentin is protected by the enamel, cementum and gums. Microscopic
holes in the dentin called tubules, connect back to the nerve triggering
pain when irritated by certain foods and beverages.
Dentin can be exposed by:
-
receding
gums
-
fractured
or chipped teeth
-
clenching
or grinding your teeth
-
Improper
tooth brushing
Treatment
Depending on your diagnosis,
your dentist may recommend a variety of different treatments. Treatments
generally involve:
-
Desensitizing
toothpaste's
-
In office
desensitizers
-
Fluoride
treatments
It is important to consult your
dentist if sensitivity is a problem to decide the best method, although
most dentist begin by recommending desensitizing toothpaste's which can
be purchased over the counter because they have proven to be very effective
and yet inexpensive.
.
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