Dental Sensitivity And How To Treat It

26 July 2021
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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If you suffer from dental sensitivity, you may experience a great amount of discomfort when you eat a cold treat. Thus, you may alter your diet to avoid the pain associated with your condition.

Dental sensitivity is a relatively common condition that can affect practically anyone. Here is a bit of information about the condition and how you can treat it.

Why Does Dental Sensitivity Occur?

The layer beneath the tooth enamel is called the dentin. The dentin is softer than the enamel layer and it includes small tunnel-like structures called tubules. The tubules allow the dental nerves to extend from the pulp of the tooth into the dentin layer. Although the tooth enamel helps protect the dentin layer and block environmental access to the nerves in the tubules, if the tooth enamel is damaged or wears away, the nerves become more sensitive to the conditions in your mouth. Thus, when you eat something cold, you may experience pain.

What Are Some of the Reasons Why the Dentin May Be Revealed?

There are multiple reasons why the dentin layer may be exposed in your mouth. Here are a few of them:

Decay

Tooth decay occurs when microbial acids dissolve the minerals that comprise the enamel. As the tooth enamel is eaten away, the dentin layer may be exposed.

Brushing with hard bristles

If you brush your teeth with a toothbrush that contains firm bristles, you are more likely to erode your enamel while brushing. Additionally, you can brush your teeth with too much force. If the bristles of your toothbrush appear frayed and disorderly, you are likely applying too much pressure during your brushing sessions, and your tooth enamel may be suffering.

Bruxism

Some people develop a condition called bruxism, where they grind their teeth at night. Your dentist may notice that the chewing surfaces of your teeth appear flatter if you suffer from this condition. By grinding the top teeth against those of the lower palate, you can eventually wear down the enamel to expose the dentin.

How Can You Treat Your Dental Sensitivity?

To treat your dental sensitivity, your dentist may suggest desensitizing toothpaste. The paste includes special medication that helps calm the dental nerves. Nevertheless, if the underlying reason for the dental sensitivity is decay or significant damage to the tooth material, a dental filling, crown, or root canal treatment may be needed.

If you suffer from sensitive teeth, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your area.