If you have sensitive teeth, they hurt when you drink hot or cold beverages or even if you breathe in cold air. This can make life very uncomfortable, and there is a reason why this is happening to you. This is why you need to see your dentist to determine why you have tooth sensitivity. In the meantime, below are some common causes of this and ways you can treat it on your own.

Causes of Tooth Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity is caused by exposed dental nerves.  If you have periodontal disease, it causes your gums to recede and this could expose roots. Some things can wear down enamel on your teeth and expose the microscopic hollow canals or tubes that lead to dental nerves. Some things that can erode your enamel include:

• GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease: Acid wears away at enamel
• Sugary and acidic foods and drinks
• Teeth grinding
• Using teeth whitening treatments too often
• Brushing teeth too vigorously

If you have a chipped or cracked tooth, it can also expose the microscopic hollow canals or tubes.

How to Reduce Teeth Sensitivity

Your dentist can likely treat your teeth sensitivity. There are also some things you can do on your own to help with this problem, including:

• See your dentist twice per year for checkups
• Use a toothbrush with soft bristles
• Wear a mouth guard at night if you grind your teeth
• Be gentle when you brush your gums
• Use non-alcohol-based mouthwash once per day after you brush and floss
• Use desensitizing toothpaste

How Your Dentist Can Treat Teeth Sensitivity

If you continue to have this problem after doing the things above, you need to talk to your dentist about how they can treat your teeth sensitivity. There are many ways they can do this. One simple way is to apply a desensitizing gel on your teeth. If you have exposed roots, the dentist may use white fillings, fluoride varnish, or dentin sealers to cover them up.

If you have receding gums, the dentist can do a deep cleaning, also known as root planing or tooth scaling. If this does not work, they will suggest a surgical option, such as pocket depth reduction or regeneration.

When your teeth are no longer sensitive, you still need to make changes in how you care for your teeth to prevent it from happening again. If you have any other questions, contact a dentist, such as the Dental Associates PC.