Sensitive Teeth – Causes and Solutions

How to control the problem of sensitive teeth through dental procedures at a Derby dentist.

If you have ever experienced a sharp pain in your teeth when you drink or eat something hot or very cold, the likely cause of this is that you have sensitive teeth. Although, quite often, the pain is relatively minor and goes away quite quickly, it can also be quite severe and distressing for some.

Even for those whose pain is relatively minor, sensitive teeth can certainly take away the pleasure of eating and drinking and leave them feeling quite miserable at times.

Thankfully, there are a number of sensitive teeth treatments available at Darren Bywater Dental Care in Derby. Initially, of course, a consultation will be needed to determine the cause of the problem and the correct procedure then applied to address it.

Erosion

One of the most common causes of sensitive teeth is that of erosion of the enamel that covers the softer part of the tooth, the dentin. When this is exposed the nerves are closer to the surface and therefore the person experiences the hot or cold more significantly. Sometimes this can be corrected by using a toothpaste that contributes additional fluoride to strengthen the enamel, but in severe cases, it may be advisable to replace the front surface of the teeth with dental veneers to provide a protective layer.

Bruxism

Teeth grinding is a well known cause of damage to the enamel of our teeth and, as this most often happens during our sleep, it can be very difficult to prevent.

By far the best way to prevent this happening is to deal with the underlying causes which very often include stress. There are also dental devices available that can prevent the grinding from taking place.

If the damage has already been done and the cause now dealt with; in many cases, replacing the damaged enamel by fitting a dental crown and thereby rebuilding the tooth, will protect it from the the elements which cause the pain.

Cracked or Chipped Teeth

Any tooth that has a crack or a chip in it will expose the dentin layer and allow the pain to be felt. In some cases it may be possible to correct these using a composite filling, but where this is not possible, dental veneers may again be used to protect the tooth.

Gum Disease

Gum disease, even in the relatively early stages can cause the gums to recede and this exposes the roots of the tooth where many of the nerves are situated. This, quite naturally, means that when they are exposed to extremes of temperature, pain is highly likely to be felt.

Gum disease is treatable and should not be left as it can eventually lead to periodontitis and loss of a number of teeth.

Teeth Whitening

It should be stated here that some patients that have a teeth whitening procedure at our Derby dental practice may also experience some sensitivity shortly after the procedure has taken place. This however, is entirely different and is very temporary and normal sensation will follow soon after. This does not require any further treatment.

If you suffer from sensitive teeth and would like to see what we can do to prevent this, please arrange to visit Darren Bywater Dental Care by calling us on 01332 550926.

Google+