Ways That Your Family Dentist Can Help With Sensitive Teeth
If you have sensitive teeth, visit our
family dentist office to determine if it is due to a loss of enamel. If eating a bowl of ice cream, drinking iced tea, or brushing your teeth has become difficult then sensitive teeth is likely to blame. What you need to find out is whether or not your teeth are sensitive due to an infection or a loss of enamel. Both will feel better after being treated by our dental office.
If you have an infection, it needs to be treated and removed right away. With gum disease, for example, the standard course of treatment is to perform a deep cleaning where bacteria are removed from on and under the gums. Once done, they will start to feel better and naturally heal themselves. If the disease has spread and the gums have started to recede, then a gum graft may be necessary in order to cover up the exposed area of the tooth and roots. Once done, teeth will be less sensitive because the exposed area will be covered.
As a family dentist, we will also treat any cavities that we discover. A small cavity typically only requires a filling to preserve the tooth. Large cavities or infections may require a root canal for treatment. In this procedure, the infected area and roots are removed from the center of the tooth; a filling is placed, and a crown is used to protect the tooth once done. A crown is extremely effective for protecting damaged or sensitive teeth because it is a cap that surrounds the tooth and prevents anything from actually touching it.
If, however, there is no infection then you should take these steps to help your teeth to feel better:
- Brushing your teeth. Replace your hard toothbrush with a soft one and use desensitizing toothpaste instead of your normal brand. The toothpaste will block the transmission of sensations from your tooth to your roots, thereby reducing any pain.
- Flouride treatments. You can strengthen your teeth and help to restore the enamel by using fluoride. We recommend that you brush with a toothpaste that contains it and if your teeth don’t start to feel better, ask for an in-office fluoride treatment. This is a quick and easy way to reduce sensitive teeth. You should follow this up by rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash in order to kill any lingering bacteria that could be causing the sensitivity.
- Improve your diet. The enamel in your teeth can wear away if you have a bad diet that contains a lot of sugar or things like soda. Replace the bad foods you eat with nuts, lean protein, dairy products, green leafy vegetables, and crunchy fruits and veggies. These foods will help to remineralize and strengthen your teeth.
As a family dentist, we can also make recommendations based on the current condition of your teeth. By scheduling a dental exam, we can make a determination about what the exact cause of the sensitivity is and the best way for you to treat it.
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