Dental Health: Understanding What Exactly is Tooth Sensitivity

I'm pretty sure you all have experienced that short yet sharp pain in your teeth whenever you drink hot or cold beverages. That's tooth sensitivity right there. Here in the U.S alone, about 8 out of 10 Americans have this dental problem. That's about 40 million U.S citizens affected by this problem. Then, it's safe to say that it's pretty common. 

If you are constantly experiencing this kind of problem even without exposing your teeth to any hot or cold foods, you got a serious problem. Though it's common, some people are confused and don't even know what to do with it. 

Today, we will talk about teeth sensitivity, understand how it occurs, and manage the pain. 

What Exactly is Tooth Sensitivity?

Dentin hypersensitivity, or much familiar as tooth sensitivity, is the discomfort or pain you feel in your teeth when exposed to certain stimuli, like hot and cold foods. Usually, this problem is temporary. 

It can affect a single tooth or several others all at once. There are several causes why you have it. If you go to your dentist, you'll be asked several questions, including a checkup to pinpoint the underlying cause of your problem. 

There are cases that you can treat it with just a tweek of your oral hygiene regime.

Common Triggers

Here are the common triggers for teeth sensitivity. Check the list below to see if one or several of them trigger your tooth sensitivity. 

~ hot and cold beverages

~ hot and cold foods

~ cool air

~ sweet foods/drinks

~ acidic foods/drinks

~ teeth whitening products

Causes 

As I said earlier, there are several reasons why a person has sensitive teeth. But, the common reason why we experience it is that the enamel on our teeth slowly erodes. 

The enamel is the outer layer of our teeth that protects it. Due to some reasons, this protective layer gets worn down, exposing the dentin of your tooth. Thus, causing a short burst of pain in your teeth. 

The tooth enamel can be worn down from the following:

• regularly drinking acidic drinks and foods
• grinding your teeth when sleeping
• brushing your teeth roughly

Gum recession is also a cause of why people have this problem because it exposes the roots of your tooth, which then leads to sensitivity. 

Tooth decay, chipped tooth, and worn tooth filling exposes your tooth's dentin too, which causes sensitivity. If you have any of these dental problems, you'll only experience sensitivity on a single tooth or a particular region. 

If you're currently using the Luelli teeth whitening system to bleach your teeth, don't worry about the sensitivity you'll experience. It's only temporary. It also happens if you get your dental fillings, or perhaps getting a crown. 

Treatment

So, how do you treat it? Now, if you feel mild sensitivity, you can try using over the counter dental treatments.

One common treatment is choosing the right toothpaste. You can buy toothpaste for sensitive teeth in stores and drug stores. It has desensitizing ingredients that help block the pain going to the nerve endings. 

If you're using mouthwash right now, it's better not to choose an alcohol-based mouthwash. By doing so, you'll experience less discomfort.

Final Thoughts

In most cases, teeth sensitivity is only a mild problem. But, if it does greatly affect your quality of life, then you should visit your dentist. Always brush your teeth twice a day gently, and never forget to floss.