Teeth sensitivity can be uncomfortable and disrupt your daily routine. However, there are at-home treatment options that can help relieve symptoms.
To reduce teeth sensitivity, limit the amount of acidic foods and drinks you consume. Also, avoid using a hard-bristled toothbrush as it can cause enamel erosion. Lastly, try a desensitizing toothpaste to help protect the surface of your teeth and gums.
Salt Water Rinse
Many people suffer from sensitive teeth, which may trigger a short, sharp pain or a more lasting throbbing sensation. This pain is often triggered by inhaling hot and cold air; eating or drinking something hot, cold, sweet or acidic; brushing teeth; or other oral stimuli. It can affect a single tooth or multiple teeth.
If you suffer from tooth sensitivity, the first thing to do is to visit your dentist for an evaluation. They can find the cause of your sensitivity and recommend the most effective treatments for you.
A simple salt water rinse can help reduce your sensitivity. Mix half a teaspoon of table salt with warm water and rinse your mouth for one minute. This helps decrease inflammation and soothe gum tissue, which can be a cause of sensitive teeth. It also increases the pH level in your mouth, creating an environment where bacteria can’t thrive.
Aside from a thorough daily brushing and flossing, this is the most effective treatment for tooth sensitivity. You should also avoid using abrasive toothpaste, as this can wear down enamel and gum tissue. If you grind your teeth, ask your dentist about a mouth guard to stop this from happening. They will also likely recommend a desensitizing toothpaste, which contains compounds that block the transmission of sensation from your teeth to the nerves.
Desensitizing Toothpaste
The goal of all forms of medicine is to find simple, inexpensive, and effective cures for painful and serious problems. Sensitive teeth are no different. A quick trip to the dentist and some simple care can make all the difference. Your dentist is like a dental detective, they will get to the bottom of what’s causing your tooth pain and then use a toolbox of treatments from fluoride varnishes to gum disease therapy to restore your mouth to its former glory.
Tooth sensitivity is usually caused by worn enamel or exposed tooth roots. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including a cracked or chipped tooth, gum disease, or even a filling that has worn out. Desensitizing toothpaste contains ingredients that help to shield the nerve endings of your tooth from irritants. These ingredients typically include potassium nitrate and stannous fluoride, which block the transmission of pain signals from the surface of your tooth to the nerve inside. Over time, consistent daily use will build up a layer of protection that can help to ease your discomfort.
The most important thing to remember is that desensitizing toothpaste doesn’t fix the underlying problem that’s causing your tooth pain. If you continue to experience severe tooth sensitivity after using the toothpaste, schedule an appointment with your dentist to receive a full oral health examination and treatment. They can offer additional solutions like gum grafts to cover and protect your exposed roots, or root canals to treat any damaged tissues.
Hydrogen Peroxide Mouth Rinse
Tooth sensitivity can be caused by a number of issues, ranging from tooth erosion to gum recession. These causes can leave a tooth’s roots exposed, leaving nerves vulnerable to pain. Luckily, there are teeth sensitivity treatments that can help to alleviate this pain and protect the root of your tooth from further damage.
These treatments can range from at-home products to dental treatments. The best option for treating sensitivity is to talk to your dentist, as they will be able to recommend the right treatment for you.
Many common foods and drinks contain acids that can wear down enamel and expose dentin, leading to sensitivity. A good diet can help reduce these acid levels and prevent sensitivity.
Another cause of tooth sensitivity is brushing with an abrasive toothpaste or using a hard-bristled toothbrush. This can lead to the physical removal of enamel and gum tissues over time. These factors can also lead to a cracked or chipped tooth.
Tooth sensitivity that continues to occur even after the use of at-home treatments may indicate a more serious problem, like a cavity or a loose filling. These problems can be fixed with more advanced dental treatments, such as a filling or a root canal. Persistent sensitivity after getting a filling can also be resolved with the help of a desensitizing toothpaste.
Fluoride
Tooth sensitivity can be painful, making it difficult to enjoy your favorite foods. It is most often caused by the underlying dentin becoming exposed to the outside world. The dentin contains thousands of tiny tubules that connect to your tooth’s nerves. When these tubes become uncovered by erosion or gum recession, hot and cold temperatures can reach the nerves and cause pain. Fortunately, teeth sensitivity can be treated with fluoride and desensitizing toothpaste.
In addition to protecting the enamel from acid erosion from bacteria, fluoride is an effective treatment for tooth sensitivity. It also helps to remineralize areas of eroded enamel, helping to restore the strength and appearance of the tooth.
In one study, participants were questioned about their daily life sensitivity to hot and cold foods or drinks, cold air, sweet or sour foods and brushing. They were then given a visual analog scale (VAS) to rate their sensitivity. They were split into groups that either received fluoride treatments or did not receive them. The fluorosis group was compared with the non-fluorosis group regarding their VAS scores and other variables, including age, gender and smoking habits. The results of the study showed that a high concentration of fluoride and different combinations with dentin fluid obstruction agents were beneficial to control DHS. The results also showed that fluoride helped to prevent root caries.