Have you ever experienced a sudden unbearable pain when you took a bite of ice cream, or had chilled cold water, or had a sip of sizzling/hot soup? If your answer is positive, then you feel discomfort then you are suffering from “tooth sensitivity“. In dental language, it is called “Dentin Hypersensitivity”. Such pain in your teeth is caused due to frayed-out tooth enamel, exposed roots of teeth, cavities (black spots in your teeth), Periodontal disease (gum disease), and cracked or chipped teeth.
Sensitive teeth are very common in people and you must have heard many people say they have “sensitive teeth” and refuse to eat some foods. By saying that they have sensitive teeth, what they mean to say is that have a sharp stimulus to

• Eating or drinking chilled things
• Eating or drinking hot things
• Intake of excess sweets

All the above things may cause some people to experience very bad insufferable pain for a few minutes.

Sensitive Teeth Causes

Dentinal tubules are microscopic tubular structures in the dentin layer of your teeth. Their number is in thousands and they radiate centrifugally from the pulp. If there is any change in plasma-like fluid in your dentinal tubules, then this can cause mechanoreceptors. These are present on the nerves, which results in pain in the form of teeth sensitivity. The people who are suffering from tooth sensitivity as mentioned these triggers can come from physical force or cold or hot drinks. Exposure to dentin can also result in sensitive teeth. Various causes of dentin exposure are:

• Brushing your teeth very harshly/Wrong techniques of brushing teeth
• Poor oral dental care or hygiene
• Intake of acidic foods very frequently or consumption of acidic liquids
• Gum surgery exposing tooth’s roots
• Receding gums (Gingival Recession) can also expose the tooth’s roots
• Untreated cavities
• Worn out tooth for a long time (Erosion/Abrasion), Tooth erosion can be caused by a high intake of acidic foods or Bulimia, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease(GERD), GERD is a digestive disorder in which the acidic fluids, foods, and juices from your stomach back up to your esophagus.
• Leak or crack in an old filling (micro-leakage)
• Smoking of Tobacco
• Dental Bleaching

Pupal sensitivity normally affects only one tooth and it is caused by:

• Decay of your teeth or Infection
• Newly filled tooth
• Excessive force from grinding or clenching (Bruxism)
• Broken or cracked tooth

All of the above are reasons for Sensitive Teeth and it may create problems in relishing your favorite dishes and more importantly hamper your teeth and oral care.

Expert opinion

• Dr. Reena Waghela Dental Director of Sabka dentist says “Sensitive teeth are very common, and their solutions are also very simple like using desensitizing toothpaste, proper brushing techniques, good dietary habits to strengthen teeth etc.”
• Dr. Rupali Gujar Dental Director of Sabka dentist says “Sensitivity is a sharp intolerable pain although temporary, but its worst kind of pain is caused due to either cold or hot intake of any foods or drinks.”
• Dr. Jena Shah Dental Director of Sabka dentist says “If the sensitivity persists for a few weeks, it’s advisable to look for a dentist as its underlying root causes are many which can overall be harmful for your teeth.”

Home Remedies for Sensitive Teeth

Generally, people look for home remedies to first treat sensitive teeth and the below-given solution may help you relieve the pain in some manner. Have a look

• Desensitizing toothpaste – You may use Sensodyne toothpaste. It contains potassium nitrate. The basic function of potassium is to hyperpolarize the nerves and stop its stimulus and causing pain. Hence, it desensitizes the nerve and blocks the pain from the surface.
  You can even GC Tooth Mousse Plus, it’s very effective but please use this one only if you are directed by your dentist. It contains casein phosphopeptide–amorphous calcium phosphate-nano complexes (CPP-ACP) and fluoride, which helps to buffer free phosphate and calcium ions. Now, they help to keep up a super-saturated state that prohibits demineralization and encourages remineralization.
• Replace your brush if it has hard bristles with a soft one. Buy a soft bristled brush.
• Evade food and drinks that are extremely acidic.
• Use a mouthwash that has fluoride.
• In case suffering from Clenching/Grinding of the teeth called Bruxism, you can use a Mouthguard
• Usage of gel or varnish-containing fluoride

Tooth Sensitivity Treatment

You may also visit a professional dentist to treat the sensitive teeth. The pain caused by sensitive teeth is unbearable, we know it and if you are suffering from it, you may directly even reach for a professional treatment. Also, if it lasts for a longer duration or more than a few weeks, you must fix an appointment with a good dentist.

The dentist will help you to decide whether your sensitive teeth will be treated with simple remedies or you may have to opt for a treatment.

Some treatments for Sensitive teeth are

• Bonding Treatment – This procedure will be helpful if you have a broken or cracked tooth. As mentioned, broken or cracked teeth can be one of the causes of sensitive teeth. It is a very simple procedure where your dentist will apply a tooth-coloured composite resin to the tooth which is damaged. It is also very cost-efficient and not expensive at all.
• Crown restoration/Inlay restoration – This treatment involves capping completely or covering a tooth or your dental implant. Such a procedure is normally advised by the dentist when you’re suffering from sensitive teeth due to cavities.
• Gum Graft – It is gum augmentation or a kind of periodontal surgery. It is for root coverage. It is a simple surgery in which your periodontist will remove the healthy gum tissues from the roof of your mouth and attach it where your gums have receded for rebuild. Sensitive teeth due to gingival recession or receding gums can opt for this treatment.

These are some of the treatments required in case of severe sensitive teeth and all of them are very simple Tooth sensitivity is a common problem and procedures are available by many being low cost and giving long-term benefits and relief from sensitive teeth.

For any further queries, call us and Sabka Dentist is happy to hear them!

References

• What Can You Do About Sensitive Teeth?
• Why Are My Teeth So Sensitive?