Don’t Ignore Your Sensitive Teeth
Is your morning sip of coffee ruined by sudden tooth pain? Do you wince at the thought of eating ice cream? Teeth sensitivity is characterized by pain when consuming hot or cold foods and drinks. It is a common dental complaint, and one that can cause notable disruptions within your smile comfort. There are a number of dental health issues that can produce sensitive teeth. While some are less harmful than others, you should always let your dentist evaluate your sensitive teeth.
Tooth sensitivity is essentially nerve irritation within the tooth. To understand how this happens, it is important to know the anatomy of a tooth. The outer layer of a tooth is called the enamel, which keeps the inner layers of a tooth protected from external components. The inside of a tooth is largely composed of dentin, which contains numerous microscopic tubules that each house nerve endings. The dentin extends down to the root of your tooth. When the outer enamel layer wears thin or becomes damaged, the nerve endings of the dentin are more exposed, which causes significant pain when hot, cold or acidic substance are introduced. The same occurs if the root of a tooth gets exposed, such as when the gums recede.
There are many reasons why patients may experience enamel loss or gum recession and consequently suffer from sensitivity, including the following:
- Aggressive brushing habits (too much force wears away enamel)
- Consuming highly acidic foods and beverages
- Tooth decay
- Worn or leaky fillings
- Broken, chipped or cracked teeth
- Gum recession (caused by gum disease or other culprit)
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
- Excessive teeth bleaching
At Alora Dentistry & Implant Center, we believe that when your teeth are signaling pain, your smile needs attention. Let our dentists diagnose your teeth sensitivity and help you regain the comfortable smile you deserve. Depending on the cause of your tooth pain, we can recommend a number of effective treatment options, ranging from a tooth-colored filling, bonding, periodontal therapy and more.