.

Tooth Sensitivity - What is Tooth Sensitivity?

Sometimes teeth can become uncomfortable when exposed to changes in temperature or when eating certain foods. Tooth sensitivity is one of the most common dental complaints and affects approximately 20% of the population. This condition can be the result of several different causes and can be addressed by an examination performed by a dentist.

Causes of Tooth Sensitivity

Teeth are composed of several components. The outside layer of the tooth is the enamel. The enamel is the layer that is colored during tooth whitening procedures . The next layer is the inside pulpy layer that contains dentin. When small holes occur in the enamel, the dentin is exposed and the nerves contained in the dentin react by causing pain.

Tooth sensitivity can be caused due to a number of issues. Often these are issues that can be addressed by a dentist or through simple changes to dental hygiene:

Aggressive Brushing - From time to time, people get a bit over-zealous in their brushing technique. Over brushing can cause breaks in the enamel of the teeth and result in tooth sensitivity. Brushing with a lighter touch or changing to a softer toothbrush may address this problem.

Teeth Whitening - Occasionally, a teeth whitening procedure will result in tooth sensitivity. A dentist may prescribe using a toothpaste specially designed for sensitive teeth for a period of time.

Cavities - A cavity is a hole or break in the tooth enamel, which can result in tooth sensitivity when exposed to changes in temperature or foods.

Exposure to Acids - Many of the foods we eat are highly acidic. Excessive consumption of sodas, foods such as tomatoes or lemons, and other foods can result in acid eating away at tooth enamel.

Gum Disease - Gum disease results in receding gums , exposing nerve endings and resulting in tooth pain.

Treatment for Tooth Sensitivity

A dentist may recommend using an over-the-counter sensitivity toothpaste for a period of time to address tooth sensitivity problems. These toothpastes work by temporarily filling small breaks in the tooth enamel . Additionally, many of these types of toothpastes also contain a mild numbing agent that temporarily makes eating less painful.

If cavities or breaks in the teeth are the issue that is causing the tooth pain, then the dentist may recommend fillings or crowns to replace the tooth surface. Another suggestion may be to remove a severely damaged tooth and replace it with an implant, which has the look and feel of the original tooth.

Finally, frequent tooth sensitivity may be addressed by the use of dental veneers . Veneers replace the natural enamel with a new overlay of material that is resistant to decay. Veneers are cosmetically attractive and may resolve the problem of tooth sensitivity permanently.

Summary

Dental care is extremely important and tooth sensitivity may be the result of a number of dental issues. While temporary relief may be found by using an over-the-counter toothpaste for sensitive teeth, chronically sensitive teeth should be examined by a dentist. Causes of tooth sensitivity include eating or drinking acidic foods, cavities, breaks in the tooth enamel, or gum disease.