Seven Remedies for Sensitive Teeth
Do you suffer from tooth sensitivity? Many of the patients that visit our clinics express discomfort related to temperature sensitivity. Whether your teeth are sensitive to hot, cold, acids, sugars, brushing or flossing, you don’t have to suffer. Below we’ve compiled some causes of sensitive teeth along with ways to prevent and treat sensitive teeth.
What causes tooth sensitivity?
Tooth sensitivity is a common dental problem that can develop over time. It starts to happen when the softer, inner part of the tooth called the dentin becomes exposed. Dentin lies under the enamel and the gums. Other factors that cause sensitive teeth include:
- Tooth decay/cavities
- Fractured, cracked or chipped teeth
- Worn fillings or enamel
- Gum disease or infection
- Exposed tooth root
- Bruised tooth nerves from a recent procedure (temporary)
- Over-brushing
- Teeth grinding
- Acidic foods
Preventing and treating tooth sensitivity
The first step to help cure dental sensitivity is to find out what the cause is. Our dental professionals can help you with this. If the sensitivity is due to exposed dentin, there are a number of steps you can take to help reduce the sensitivity. Here are seven tooth sensitivity treatments to try.
- Salt water rinses: To alleviate pain symptoms from sensitive teeth, gargle with a salt water rinse twice daily.
- Change your toothbrush/toothpaste: Hard bristle toothbrushes or abrasive toothpastes can aggravate sensitive teeth. By switching to a soft-bristled toothbrush and using a toothpaste specifically for sensitivity like Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening, this will reduce pain.
- Honey and warm water. You probably weren’t aware that honey is an antibacterial agent and can be used for wound management, pain reduction, swelling and inflammation. To reduce pain from sensitive teeth, rinse your mouth with warm water and a spoonful of honey.
- Turmeric: Turmeric is commonly known to be an anti-inflammatory treatment. For oral health treatment and to alleviate pain from sensitive teeth, you can massage ground turmeric on the teeth, or create a turmeric paste and apply to your teeth twice daily.
- Green tea: For sensitive teeth, use unsweetened green tea as a mouthwash twice a day to strengthen teeth and reduce swelling.
- Vanilla extract: To treat sensitive teeth, pour vanilla extract onto a cotton ball. Apply the cotton ball to your gums for a few minutes, and repeat the process as often as needed.
- Purchase a mouth guard: If you are suffering from sensitive teeth because of teeth grinding (also known as bruxism) your dentist can make a model of your teeth and use this to produce a mouth guard that you can wear during the night.
Don’t let your sensitive teeth take the joy out of simple pleasures in life. Talk to your dentist. You don’t have to suffer – there are ways to overcome this issue.
If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.