How to deal with sensitive teeth

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If you feel a sharp twinge when you eat hot or cold foods and drinks, brush or floss, or even breathe cold air, you’re not alone. More than 11% of Americans experience tooth sensitivity.

Causes of tooth sensitivity

Sensitivity in teeth happens when tooth enamel—the hard, protective outer layer—is worn down or missing. This exposes the dentin layer—the part of the tooth beneath the enamel—which is sensitive to hot and cold.

Despite its strength, tooth enamel can be eroded by exposure to acids and wear and tear. Once your enamel is gone, it’s gone forever, so you should be aware of how enamel can be eroded:

  • Brushing your teeth too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush

  • Using an abrasive toothpaste

  • Drinking fruit drinks (some acids in fruit drinks are more erosive than battery acid)

  • Having a dry mouth or low salivary flow (xerostomia)

  • Consuming a diet high in sugar and starches

  • Having acid reflux disease (GERD)

Your dentist can help

Your dentist can identify or rule out any underlying cause of sensitivity and protect your teeth from getting worse. Depending on the circumstances, they might recommend:

Desensitizing toothpaste: After several applications, desensitizing toothpaste can sometimes help block pain. Ask your dentist which product might work best for you. Remember that desensitizing toothpaste only treats symptoms—it can’t cure tooth sensitivity.

Fluoride: Your dentist might apply fluoride to the sensitive areas of your teeth to strengthen tooth enamel and reduce pain. They might also suggest using prescription fluoride at home, applied using a custom tray.

Desensitizing or bonding: Exposed root surfaces can sometimes be treated by applying bonding resin to sensitive root surfaces. This procedure may require the use of a local anesthetic.

Surgical gum graft: A surgical graft can protect exposed roots and reduce sensitivity. It involves taking a small amount of gum tissue from elsewhere in your mouth and attaching it to the affected site.

Root canal: If pain is severe and other treatments aren’t effective, your dentist might recommend a root canal to treat the tooth’s soft core (dental pulp). While this may sound extreme, it’s considered the most successful technique for eliminating tooth sensitivity.

Mouthguard: If your teeth are sensitive because you grind them in your sleep, your dentist can make a mouthguard you can wear at night. A mouthguard protects your teeth from pressure and damage and can reduce the pain caused by sensitive teeth. It can also treat pain in the jaw joint.

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