Do you experience sharp temporary pain when you eat, drink or clean your teeth? If yes then you may have sensitive teeth typically due to worn enamel or exposed tooth roots. Let your dentist know if you experience tooth sensitivity on a regular basis as it is important that they rule out potential underlying causes of your pain such as a cracked tooth, dental cavity or gum disease.
You can try some of the following strategies to help ease tooth sensitivity and prevent it from getting worse:
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Brush gently with a soft bristled brush so that you don’t damage the enamel. Brush along the gum line to prevent gum disease, because gum disease can lead to exposed tooth roots, leading to hypersensitive teeth.
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Use a sensitive toothpaste. There are a variety of products that help block the pain. You may need to try different brands to find which one may work best for you. Sensodyne and Colgate Pro-relief are popular and are very effective. A good tip is to smear the toothpaste on your teeth after toothbrushing and leave the paste on while you sleep.
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Remineralising against such as Toothmousse Plus can help reduce sensitivity. You can purchase this product from your dentist or some chemists.
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Reduce or avoid acidic food and drinks to reduce risks of acidic wear on your teeth which results in erosion of the enamel.
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Drinking water regularly helps reduce acidity in the mouth and increases saliva production which can improve the buffering and clearance capacity of saliva.
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Rinsing your mouth out with a solution of baking soda can help create an alkaline environment, reducing risk of enamel erosion.
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Consider in-office treatment. If significant tooth structure has been lost, your dentist may consider a bonding procedure to restore and cover the exposed dentine/root surfaces.
If you continue to experience sensitivity, please see your dentist for a thorough examination to rule out other potential causes.