For some people, eating ice cream, drinking a glass of cold water, or eating hot soup can be very painful. Tooth sensitivity is one of the most common oral problems, affecting seven out of ten people.
This occurs when the dental root—the inner part of the tooth that is normally protected under the gum—is exposed and comes into contact with an external stimulus (sudden changes in temperature to hot or cold, acidic or sweet foods, pressure...). The pain stops when the stimulus ceases.
In the event that the pain does not stop when we stop being in contact with the stimulus, or that we present any other symptom, such as spontaneous pain or dental bleeding, we should go to the dentist immediately.
Being such a frequent problem, we often do not give it the importance that we should, but dental sensitivity can be the symptom or the first step of more serious diseases, such as caries, gingivitis or periodontitis.
Causes of tooth sensitivity
There are different factors that can cause dental sensitivity since, as we have mentioned, this can be a warning of a more serious problem.
- Hygiene habits: Brushing our teeth with too much force, with an incorrect technique or a brush that is too strong. Excessive cleaning can also wear down the enamel and the gums themselves.
- Eating habits: Frequent and/or excessive consumption of sugars and acidic foods.
- Oral problems: Cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis, worn tooth enamel, worn filling, broken tooth, enamel with birth defects...
- Some dental treatments, such as orthodontics, teeth whitening or hygiene with scaling can cause tooth sensitivity, but this disappears after a short time and can be relieved by taking an analgesic.
As we have seen, sensitivity can have many causes, so it is best to go to our dentist to diagnose the origin of the problem and propose the most appropriate treatment.
How can we avoid tooth sensitivity?
Once our trusted dentist has found the source of the sensitivity, he can recommend different treatments to correct it.
In addition, you can give us some tips to treat dental sensitivity at home:
- Specific products for oral hygiene: Use a toothpaste that reduces tooth sensitivity, is slightly abrasive or has a high concentration of fluoride if what we need is to replace tooth enamel.
- Hygiene habits: Use a soft bristle brush, brush our teeth correctly and without sudden or excessive movements.
- Eating habits: Avoid very hot or very cold drinks, and sugary or acidic foods, such as citrus juices, white wines or vinegars.
- Other habits, such as avoiding the use of toothpicks to clean our teeth or using them as a tool (biting a container to open it).
As we have seen, we must adapt the treatment to the problem that causes tooth sensitivity. That is why it is important not to self-diagnose and go to our dentist.
To solve the problem of generalized dental sensitivity, at Ahoa we start with a correct diagnosis, we must find the origin of the problem in order to apply the best treatment for each patient. We recommend a caries review and a diagnosis of the health status of the gums, in this way 80% of cases can be solved.
Also, cleaning your mouth on a regular basis will prevent many of the causes of sensitivity.