The Causes Of Teeth Sensitivity

Have you ever felt sensitivity in your teeth? While pain caused by sensitivity to hot or cold foods can be a sign of a cavity, it could also be a symptom of sensitive teeth.

Symptoms of Sensitive Teeth

People with sensitive teeth may experience pain in response to different causes. The most common causes include:

• Hot foods and drinks
• Cold foods and drinks
• Cold air
• Acidic foods and drinks
• Sweet foods and drinks
• Cold water
• Brushing or flossing teeth
• Alcohol based mouth rinses

Causes Of Sensitive Teeth

• Using a hard toothbrush
• Brushing your teeth too hard
• Grinding your teeth at night
• Eating or drinking acidic foods and drinks regularly

Other causes could include acid reflux as it results in the wearing down of your enamel, exposing the dentine.

Tooth decay and chipped teeth can also leave some dentine exposed causing sensitivity. In this case it is likely you’ll only feel the sensitivity in one particular area of your mouth.

Gum recession can leave sections of the tooth exposed and unprotected.

How To Treat Tooth Sensitivity

If your sensitivity is mild, you can try over the counter options. Try using a toothpaste that is specifically made for sensitive teeth. These toothpastes won’t contain irritating ingredients.

Choose a non-alcohol mouthwash as it will be less irritating.

Use a softer toothbrush and be more gentle when brushing.

If home treatments don’t work, talk to your dentist for their advice. They may apply fluoride gel to help strengthen your enamel.