If your teeth hurt when you floss or brush, you could be having tooth sensitivity. The inside of your tooth is made up largely of a material known as dentin which is packed with tiny nerve endings. Dentin is protected by a harder outer layer called enamel.
Nerve irritation or tooth sensitivity occurs mostly when dentin loses its protective cover of enamel exposing the nerve endings to cold, acidic or hot foods. Below are more causes of tooth sensitivity.
At times, using a brush with hard bristles and brushing with too much force causes teeth sensitivity. If this is done over a long period of time, the protective layers of your teeth are worn down uncovering the canals that lead to your dental nerves.
When these canals get into contact with acidic foods, discomfort and tooth sensitivity becomes the end result. The best tooth sensitivity treatment in such a situation is to use less force when brushing and switch to a toothbrush with softer bristles.
If the pathways to your dental nerves are unprotected, acidic foods such as pickles, kiwi, grapefruit, lemon and tomato sauce will definitely cause pain. Local dentists recommend avoiding such kinds of food if you want to avoid tooth discomfort.
Grinding your teeth
Although tooth enamel is the strongest substance in the human body, grinding your teeth can wear down enamel. By so doing, the middle layer of your teeth which is known as dentin becomes exposed and puts you at risk of tooth sensitivity.
If you cannot stop yourself from grinding your teeth, talking to your local dentist about a mouth guard can be of great help to you. Mouth guards can stop you from grinding and the finest ones are those that are custom made to fit your bite.
Age comes with receding gums especially if proper dental care has not been taken over the years. Tooth sensitivity then occurs in such a scenario. If gingivitis or gum disease is the problem, your local dentist will come up with a plan to treat the underlying disease.
Tooth whitening paste
Most people would like to have whiter teeth and will end up using tooth whitening toothpastes. The problem with such kind of toothpastes is that the tooth whitening chemicals they contain could cause teeth sensitivity.
Too much plaque
Brushing and flossing are mainly done to remove plaque that forms after eating. Excessive accumulation of plaque can wear tooth enamel away. Your teeth will then lose their protection and become more sensitive.
The solution is to practice good dental care daily and visiting your dentist frequently for cleaning.
A cracked or chipped tooth can cause much more pain than that of tooth sensitivity. Dentists in Mississauga recommend that in such cases, teeth need to be examined to determine the right course of treatment.
Experiencing tooth sensitivity after a crown placement, an extraction or root canal treatment is quite common. However, if the symptoms of these procedures don’t disappear after a while, you should consult your local dentist because that could be an indication of an infection.