If you find that you occasionally wince in pain when your teeth react to anything hot or cold that you eat or drink, you might simply dismiss it and not bother visiting the dentist to have it checked out. The reality is though, that experiencing this type of discomfort isn’t normal and may indicate a potentially serious issue, warranting a prompt check by a dental professional.
Failing to address this problem when you notice that your teeth have become sensitive to temperature of food and drink may lead to not only continued discomfort but also problems that become worse over time. In today’s blog, our Purley dental team takes a look at the possible causes of this problem and what we can do to help you overcome it.
There are a number of things that can lead to teeth becoming overly sensitive. This usually occurs when the enamel has been damaged in some way or when unprotected parts of the tooth are exposed to either hot or cold.
If you have a cavity in a tooth, and especially a deep one, this can expose the dentin or pulp area of the tooth where the nerves are stored. This is just one of the reasons why you should see one of our dentists in Purley if you are experiencing sensitivity. Failure to do so could soon lead to very painful toothache or even root canal infections.
Both of these problems can have different causes, but when the gums recede, they expose the roots of the tooth. This area is not protected by enamel to the degree that the crown part of the tooth is and is therefore more sensitive to extremes of temperature.
As with tooth decay, any damage to the enamel exposes the more sensitive areas of the tooth. Even if you can’t see any visible problems with the tooth but are still experiencing this, it could be something as small as a small chip or even a crack in the tooth that is causing the discomfort. This is a warning that you should see a dentist to have the tooth restored before things become worse.
This is one of the most common causes of sensitive teeth. The enamel at the front of the teeth can be eroded for different reasons. One of the most common is due to our love of high sugar and acidic drinks which pass over the tooth surface and cause it to erode. Sometimes though, it is, ironically, due to us brushing our teeth too hard in an attempt to keep them clean.
‘Scrubbing’ your teeth won’t prevent tooth decay but can cause damage to the enamel of our teeth. You should brush gently and, if you would like advice on your brushing methods, we recommend that you see our dental hygienist to discuss this.
You can reduce some of the discomfort from sensitive teeth by using a sensitive tooth toothpaste. This will help to ease the discomfort, but the problem is that it won’t address the cause of the problem.
Seeing your dentist is the best place to start to resolve this issue. Where gum infections are the cause, this can be treated and a gum health management plan put into place for the future. Any instances of tooth decay or chips or cracks in the teeth can be restored by one the experienced dentists at our Purley clinic.
Where enamel erosion is the cause, one of the most effective ways of preventing discomfort and also further damage is to fit porcelain veneers to the front of your teeth. This is a great way to protect your teeth and can also be used to help you improve the colour of your teeth too. Fitting veneers often requires minor invasive dentistry but they do provide an excellent way of restoring teeth damaged in this way and can also last for ten years or more if you look after them correctly.
We will look at teeth veneers in more detail in the future but are happy to discuss these with you if you would like to discover more about them.
If you have noticed an increased sensitivity in your teeth recently, you shouldn’t wait to see if things become worse. Early intervention is always best. To arrange to see one of the dentists at Purley Dental Care, you can call us today on 020 8660 2928.
