Learning to Manage Your Dental Problems

Battling Tooth Sensitivity

2 June 2015 by Charlotte Beck

If you are displaying the signs of tooth sensitivity, you will most likely want to do whatever possible to avoid discomfort. Many people find sensitivity to be mildly painful or annoying with feelings of small shocks or jolts that shoot through the teeth when eating or drinking certain substances. Tooth sensitivity is an issue that needs to be addressed by a professional dentist, like those at Brookside Dental Associate, to help stop it. Changing a few habits in your routine will help lessen the amount of sensitivity you have to deal with as well. Here are a few tips to use to help avoid sensitivity in your teeth.

Know What Causes Sensitivity

Teeth are covered by a layer of enamel, which is a protective layer that helps keep outside sources from aggravating nerve endings in the dentin layer underneath. When the enamel wears off of a tooth's surface, the dentin layer becomes exposed. The nerve endings within will be aggravated by acidic foods and drinks or cold temperatures. It is important to do whatever you can to keep the enamel layer in tact to avoid sensitivity issues.

Change The Way You Brush

While brushing your teeth is great for your oral hygiene, it is not so great for your enamel layer if it is done too often. Excessive brushing or using too much force when you brush can cause you to wear away the layer of enamel from your teeth. If you brush your teeth in the same way each day, the same brushstrokes will be whisking away enamel. Change the direction you brush your teeth each day. If you usually brush them in an up and down motion, try a side to side motion on alternate days.

Watch What You Eat And Drink

Acidic foods and drinks eat away at the enamel layer on your teeth. It is best to avoid them all together to avoid sensitivity issues. Avoid drinking harsh juices, wine, coffee and tea, and choose to drink water as much as possible. Sweet foods can also cause sensitivity, so cutting out sugar can help keep the jolts away.

Use The Right Products

There are several sensitivity products on the market to help you fill in the exposed areas of enamel on your teeth. Sensitivity toothpaste may help lessen the discomfort while providing some protection against future enamel wearing. Avoid teeth whitening products at all costs, as these strip away the enamel layer of your teeth to leave them whiter. See your dentist to find out if placing white fillings over the affected areas would help in severe cases. They may also be able to prescribe a more potent sensitivity toothpaste or rinse for you to try.

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