The Most Effective Ways to Treat Sensitive Teeth

When suffering from sensitive teeth, you’ll likely experience pain or discomfort in response to certain triggers, such as extreme temperatures (hot or cold food and drink), sweet or acidic food, exposure to cold air and even brushing or flossing.

Mild sensitivity is common, but persistent or severe sensitivity could indicate underlying issues such as decay, gum disease or enamel loss, which should be investigated by your dentist.

In this blog, we’ll examine the common causes of sensitive teeth, remedies and how to prevent it.

What are the common causes of sensitive teeth?

Sensitivity in your teeth arises when enamel is worn down or when gums recede, exposing the layer underneath called dentine. Certain triggers, like temperature, travel through the dentine to the nerves inside the tooth, causing pain.

Here we’ll take a look at the main causes of sensitivity in teeth.

Worn tooth enamel

Brushing your teeth too hard (abrasion), grinding your teeth (attrition) (bruxism) or erosion from acidic and sugary food and drink erodes your enamel, exposing your dentine, leading to sensitivity.

Exposed tooth roots

When your gums recede due to gum disease, your tooth root is exposed. Because roots don’t have enamel, when roots are exposed to extreme temperatures or acidic or sweet food, this travels through small tubules in the dentine towards the nerve, resulting in a brief pain or sensitivity.

Tooth decay (cavities) or cracks to your tooth

If you have a cavity in your mouth due to your tooth decaying, this will expose the lower layers of the tooth, such as dentine, leading to sensitivity as described above and, in some circumstances, more prolonged pain and discomfort.

Meanwhile, if you have a cracked tooth, stimulants can get through the enamel and down to the dentine or pulp layers, again resulting in sensitivity.

Whitening treatments

It’s worth noting that some whitening treatments may increase sensitivity for a temporary period of time. This is common and will usually revert to normal very quickly; however, if sensitivity persists, we recommend contacting your dentist.

Remedies for sensitive teeth?

If you have sensitive teeth, you’ll be looking for ways to reduce the sensitivity and pain you’re experiencing.

Let’s take a look at some helpful ways to mitigate this.

Specialist toothpaste

It’s possible to buy over-the-counter sensitive toothpaste from supermarkets and pharmacies, which should take effect once you’ve been using it for a few days or weeks. It is important to use it consistently, especially if you haven’t addressed the cause of the sensitivity.

This contains ingredients like potassium nitrate or stannous fluoride to block pain signals to your nerves, thus reducing the sensations associated with sensitivity. Your dentist might be able to recommend a particular brand.

Soft-bristled toothbrush

Opt for a soft-bristled toothbrush and ensure you are brushing gently but efficiently rather than vigorously. Some electric toothbrushes feature settings designed for sensitive teeth, so be sure to activate that.

Avoid acidic food & drink

Where you can, steer clear of very acidic food or drink. If you do consume acidic items, be sure to rinse your mouth with water immediately afterwards. Drinks can be drunk through a straw.

Fluoride treatment

Dentists can offer a number of different treatments to help alleviate sensitivity, depending on the cause. For example, fluoride treatments help to remineralise your enamel layer and decrease tooth sensitivity.

It’s worth noting that you’ll need to use a dentist for this treatment to have a significant effect, because over-the-counter fluoride rinses and toothpastes don’t contain adequate levels of fluoride to rebuild your enamel.

Other treatments

Dentists can also recommend an artificial layer known as a sealant or resin to replace lost enamel. For teeth suffering significant damage, bonding with dental resins can help to seal the surface and reduce sensitivity.

Night guard

Your dentist may recommend that you be fitted for a custom night guard to wear at night to protect you from grinding your teeth while asleep.

Even a small amount of tooth clenching or grinding at night can lead to increased sensitivity, thanks to wearing down your enamel over time and through another form of micro tooth loss, abfraction.

Filling a cavity

If you suddenly experience prolonged sensitivity, especially to sweet food and drink it could indicate you have decay present. Getting a filling will reduce the pain as your dentine is restored and is no longer exposed.

Root canal

In severe cases of toothache and sensitivity where the nerve has become compromised, root canal may be required. Root canal removes the nerves inside the tooth, which stops pain and is a procedure carried out by dentists if required.

How to prevent sensitive teeth

Prevention is better than trying to find a cure, so here we’ll share some handy hints and tips for how to prevent sensitive teeth in the first place.

Dental check-ups

Ensure you are maintaining a schedule of regular dental check-ups and hygienist visits to catch any enamel wear, decay or gum disease as early as possible and minimise its impact.

Follow daily oral hygiene best practices

We’ve touched on a lot of this earlier on in the blog, but here’s a checklist of oral hygiene best practices:

• Brush your teeth twice a day
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and use gentle, circular motions to protect enamel and gums
• Opt for a fluoride toothpaste
• If you already have sensitive teeth, opt for a sensitive toothpaste
• Floss or clean in between your teeth every day
• Avoid acidic foods and drinks as much as possible (think fizzy drinks and citrus) and rinse your mouth after consuming them
• Wait 30 minutes before brushing your teeth after consuming acidic food or drink
• Wear a custom-made mouthguard at night if you grind your teeth
• Limit whitening treatments

Change your diet

Aim to have a low-acid and low-sugar diet, that is rich in calcium and minerals, to preserve enamel strength and prevent sensitive teeth.

Ensure you are drinking lots of water and eating crunchy vegetables, like carrots, to help stimulate saliva and neutralise acids.

Try to avoid eating or drinking very hot or very cold foods, as this can exacerbate sensitivity.

Conclusion

If you think you have sensitive teeth, hopefully you now feel equipped with steps to take to mitigate this. You can always discuss sensitivity with your dentist to seek their advice.

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