Tooth sensitivity: Symptoms, causes, and treatment

Is agonizing toothache stopping you from eating your favorite ice cream? Do you wince while drinking your favorite drink? Tooth sensitivity occurs when the enamel that protects our teeth gets thinner, or due to gum recession occurs. It results from damage of nerves in the tooth, which leads to pain and discomfort. Your teeth will hurt at the slightest intake of anything hotter or colder than room temperature. It may occur in a single tooth or multiple teeth.

Symptoms :

If hot, cold, sweet or very acidic foods and drinks, or breathing in cold air, makes your teeth (or a tooth) painful, then you may have tooth sensitivity. Here's some of the most common foods that trigger tooth sensitivity :

Eating cold food or drinking cold drinks

Eating hot food or drinking hot drinks

Eating sugary or sour foods

Breathing in cold air

Brushing teeth

There are a few symptoms which may occur in severe conditions :

Bad breath

Changes in taste

Pus or discharge

Receding gums

Redness and swelling of the gums

Causes :

Tooth sensitivity can be sometimes unintentionally caused by us. The main reasons however are as stated below :

1. Worn tooth enamel from brushing too hard.
2. Tooth erosion due to acidic foods.
3. Tooth cavities.
4. Gum recession.
5. Grinding teeth at night.
6. Using tooth-whitening toothpaste
7. Having cracked teeth

Treatment :

1. Desensitizing toothpaste.
2. Fluoride gel or Fluoride rinse
3. Don’t brush too hard.
4. Use a soft brush
5. Avoid acidic foods and drinks.
6. A crown, inlay or bonding.
7. Root canal for severe conditions.

Sensitive teeth never completely disappear but the symptoms can be decreased by proper diagnosis and care. Most importantly, we must remember that our daily oral hygiene routine concerns about tooth sensitivity. So, be gentle and caring to your precious white gems.