If you’ve ever experienced sensitive teeth, you know that the experience can range from annoying to downright painful. Tooth sensitivity occurs when your tooth enamel becomes damaged and the inner layers of your teeth are exposed. At Helotes Family Dentistry, we get so many questions from our patients on the causes of tooth sensitivity that we’ve compiled the top five causes below – along with some tips for easing sensitivity!
- Grinding Teeth
- Highly Acidic Diet
- Vigorous Brushing
- Harsh Chemicals
- Receding Gums
Although your tooth enamel (the protective outer layer of each of your teeth) is the hardest surface in your body, it is not indestructible! Often, we find severe enamel damage in our patients who grind their teeth at night. We can custom-create a nighttime mouthguard to help protect your teeth.
Over time, foods high in acid can wear away at tooth enamel and painfully expose the inner parts of your tooth. If you regularly consume coffee, citrus, and other highly-acidic culprits, know that a change in diet could keep you from wincing each time you take a sip of cold water.
True or false: brushing your teeth hard and fast is a great way to get brushing over with? False! Vigorous brushing in an effort to finish in half the time is actually a great way to wear away at your enamel and damage your gums. Instead, take the time to gently and thoroughly brush your teeth twice each day.
Many at-home whitening products use harsh products to whiten teeth, and this backfires by making your teeth more sensitive to temperature. If you’re looking to whiten teeth, schedule a consultation with one of our expert dentists. Our professional whitening services are a safe way to get the dramatic results you want without causing additional tooth sensitivity.
For many patients, gums naturally recede over time. However, some of your oral hygiene habits may be speeding up the process! As gums recede, they expose delicate nerve endings that can be extremely sensitive.
When our patients complain about overly sensitive teeth, we often recommend using a fluoride rinse to promote remineralization and stronger enamel. To ask our team any questions about tooth sensitivity or to schedule your next visit to our office, contact us today!
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