What Can You Do About Your Sensitive Teeth?
What Causes Tooth and Gums Sensitivity?
Sensitive teeth are typically the result of worn tooth enamel or exposed tooth roots. It can happen due to several reasons such as harsh chemicals in the toothpastes, or brushing the teeth using super hard toothbrush or you brush the teeth immediately after eating or drinking acidic food or beverages. Sometimes, however, tooth discomfort is caused by other factors, such as a cavity, a cracked or chipped tooth, a worn filling, or gum disease.
What are the Symptoms of Tooth Sensitivity?
When you feel the pain or discomfort in the teeth when you drink cold or hot beverages, acidic drinks or even fruits then it is a sign that you have tooth and gums sensitivity. It can be so bad that you are scared to bite into an ice-cream because of the sharp pain that will come next. Do you have to brace yourself for the first sip of your morning coffee? Owwww! You’re not alone. The ‘ouch’ from sensitive teeth is one of the most common dental problems.
Follow these helpful tips to get rid of sensitive teeth pain
Luckily, preventing sensitive teeth can be simple and straightforward.
Choose the Right Toothpaste
Strong acids and chemicals found in many conventional toothpastes can cause your teeth to deteriorate. Some toothpastes contain hydrated silica which can scratch the surface of your teeth, preventing proper re-mineralisation and putting your teeth at risk of damage and sensitivity. Harsh or concentrated and acidic mouth washes also cause more harm than good.
Unlike Oral Botanica Classic, conventional toothpastes and harsh mouthwashes can also make your teeth more sensitive. Oral Botanica Classic is the best toothpaste for sensitive teeth. It has been formulated from six organic botanical oils to strengthen teeth and provide long-lasting protection from the bacteria that can lead to tooth sensitivity. The combination of clove and myrrh in Oral Botanica helps to reduce the sensitivity of your teeth and gums. Brushing your teeth with Oral Botanica helps to reduce the sensitive teeth and heals the sensitive gums. Using Oral Botanica liquid toothpaste as a mouthwash morning and night will help regrowing your gums. It has been proven by many users. As usual, nature knows best.
Choose the Right Toothbrush
If you have sensitive teeth, do not brush your teeth with hard toothbrush. It will make your gums and teeth more sensitive. Choose toothbrushes with soft but firm bristles. Another option is to use an electric toothbrush with a sensor that can adjust its pressure automatically. This way, you can remove plaque and massage your gums at the same time.
Eating and your teeth
It’s also important to watch what you eat and drink. Acidic beverages and sour or sweet foods can easily wear down your teeth and increase sensitivity. Also stay away from too much junk or processed food.
Get your teeth checked every six months so that dentist can remove hardened bacterial plaque or tartar. You should also see your dentist if you have prolonged or severe teeth sensitivity.
What else is a treatment for sensitive teeth?
+ Reduce coffee, soft drinks and fruit juice. It’s a good idea to totally stop drinking these for a few days until your teeth are less sensitive.
+ Alkaline water may help neutralise acids and help strengthen your teeth
+ Avoid eating sweets and citrus fruits.
+ Take vitamin K2 and vitamin D3 to strengthen the bones holding the teeth.
Can sensitive teeth be whitened?
Teeth whitening procedures can certainly improve the appearance of your teeth, but this comes at a price. The chemical bleaching agents in most teeth whiteners lead to tooth sensitivity. And though dentists say that these “zingers” or sudden sharp pains in chemically whitened teeth are temporary, some people report that their tooth sensitivity problems have persisted for months.
Teeth bleaching can also be very harsh on your tooth enamel and even whitening toothpastes can contain chemicals which can do more harm than good for your teeth.
So, if you have sensitive teeth do you need to accept that they can’t be white? A natural teeth whitener, such as Oral Botanica Teeth Whitener, can remove stains and whiten teeth without any harsh chemicals or bleaching agents, and without causing tooth sensitivity. Activated organic charcoal and baking soda polish and clean the teeth, and calcium carbonate re-mineralises tooth enamel and strengthens the gums.
Why do teeth become sensitive?
Tooth structure 101
The innermost layer of your teeth is called the pulp: it’s full of nerves and is very sensitive. The pulp is encased within a layer of dentine, and on top of that is the enamel, which protects the pulp and allows us to chew food.
When the enamel gets damaged by bacteria, or if we have chipped teeth or cavities, sudden changes in food temperature or the acid in food will trigger tooth pain. Pain can also be caused by exposed roots due to receding gum lines.
Bacteria damages teeth by producing sugar acids that slowly erode your teeth, exposing the dentine or even the pulp.
Does anything else cause sensitive teeth?
Tooth grinding
Grinding your teeth intentionally or subconsciously as you sleep can damage your tooth enamel. Without proper care from a dentist, who might prescribe a mouth guard, your teeth’s dentine will be exposed and this can irritate nerve endings within the pulp.
Too much food
Too much sweet or sour food can trigger mouth bacteria, which will build up on the teeth and weaken the enamel.
Hard brushing
some people are too vigorous when they brush. And although hard-bristled toothbrushes and constant brushing can remove bacteria and plaque build-up, it can also strip your teeth of their protective layers, leading to the exposure of your dentine.
Cracked teeth or Problems with tooth fillings
Cracks on your teeth are often hard to detect with the naked eye, yet they can expose the inner layers of your teeth, triggering severe pain. Your teeth can also decay around fillings and this area is susceptible to bacterial attacks.
Dentists say that tooth sensitivity is normal to a certain degree, but when something as simple as drinking a refreshing glass of cold water or eating ice cream can leave you gasping in pain, it’s best to get your teeth into it.
When left untreated, sensitive teeth can worsen, and you will begin to experience pain when you eat or drink anything, or even when you try to brush or floss your teeth.
Often though, a bit of TLC for our TNG (teeth ‘n gums) will mean that you’ll soon be biting into icy treats and sipping steaming hot drinks with ease. Being sensitive to our dental care will mean that our sensitive teeth can take break, for good.
