Having sensitive teeth, either when eating warm or cold foods/drinks, is one of the most common complaints that our dental team receives. The feeling is quite familiar to many–a quick, yet painful and tingly sensation in your teeth and gums shortly after taking a bite of ice cream or another food. This is known as dental hypersensitivity, and for some people, sweet foods can also trigger this sensation. Please continue reading and speak with our New Jersey dental team to learn more about the causes of sensitive teeth, how you can mitigate the effects of dental hypersensitivity at home, and how we can assist you as well. Here are some of the questions you may have:
Why are my teeth sensitive?
Your teeth may be sensitive for a wide variety of reasons. To start, your teeth may be sensitive due to one or more cavities. In other cases, you may have gum disease or another underlying issue, which is why it is critical that the moment you notice sensitive teeth, you should schedule an appointment with our team so we can rule out the more dangerous causes of sensitive teeth.
In other cases, and perhaps most commonly, sensitive teeth are caused by a loss of tooth enamel. Enamel protects dentin, and when the enamel is worn away and dentin is exposed, so are the inner nerves of your teeth. Enamel erosion often occurs either due to bruxism or acid reflux, though it can be caused by many other factors as well. You should also note that a loss of gum tissue can cause sensitive teeth as well. A loss of gum tissue can occur for many reasons, though the most common are using chewing tobacco, improperly brushing your teeth, gum disease, poor positioning of your teeth, and more.
What can I do to improve sensitive teeth?
As previously stated, the first thing you should do is schedule an appointment with our dental team so we can assess your situation. Depending on the cause of your sensitivity, there are many actions you can take at home to mitigate the sensation. For example, you can rinse with honey and warm water, which promotes oral healing. You can also rinse with salt water, as salt is an antiseptic, which means that it will help reduce the growth of microorganisms in the mouth. Many people have also reported that pouring a small bit of vanilla extract onto a cotton ball and then gently applying it to their gums for no more than five minutes helps with teeth sensitivity as well. Finally, and perhaps the most common at-home solution for sensitive teeth, is using Sensodyne toothpaste (as long as it has been approved by your dentist). Sensodyne contains potassium nitrate and either stannous fluoride or sodium fluoride, all of which are proven to help many individuals with teeth sensitivity.
Contact the Dental Associates of Basking Ridge
Dental Associates of Basking Ridge is a compassionate, gentle, and professional state-of-the-art dental practice serving Basking Ridge, Morris & Somerset County. Our office is always ready to greet our patients with a smile, take the time to answer any questions, and provide the quality dental services our patients expect. Please contact us to schedule an appointment. We look forward to serving you!
