Your Las Vegas cosmetic dentist, Dr. Hadley, often sees patients complaining of tooth sensitivity. It’s a common problem known in the dental field as “dentin hypersensitivity.” That means sufferers feel pain with they eat or drink certain foods, particularly those that are hot or cold.
Over time, you may pick up the condition as well, but you should know you don’t have to live with it; there are some things we can do to help.
Understanding Sensitive Teeth
The problem of sensitive teeth typically happens when a person is between 20 and 50 years old. As tooth enamel wears down and gums shrink, the inner part of the tooth, called the “dentin” becomes exposed. There are thousands of channels in the dentin and when you drink hot or cold beverages, it triggers a nerve response that feels like a sharp, shooting pain in your tooth.
Dentin hypersensitivity can be caused from excessive tooth grinding, which often happens at night when we are asleep. It’s also caused by gum recession, which can happen if you’re using a hard toothbrush or brushing too aggressively. Or even, acid erosion from drinking fruit juice, coffee, or other acidic substances.
That’s why it’s important to consult your Las Vegas cosmetic dentist, Smiles by Dr. Hadley, to diagnose the root cause of why you’re feeling this pain.
What to Do About Sensitive Teeth
The first step in alleviating sensitive teeth starts with a call to your Las Vegas Cosmetic dentist. Once we’re sure about what’s causing this problem, there are several things we can do to correct it:
- First, we usually recommend toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Sensodyne is a common brand, and many people feel relief immediately when using it regularly. It’s also one of our picks for the best toothpaste to prevent cavities. There are also other brands on the market, but Sensodyne is the most popular.
- Second, we may change out the kind of toothbrush you’re using. Overzealous scrubbing of your teeth can wear away the enamel faster. Using a small head soft bristle brush is always preferred. You can also switch to an electric toothbrush. Some brands have a red light that goes on if you’re brushing too hard, which will ultimately help you change this detrimental behavior.
- Third, you can also begin stepping away from beverages that are heavily acid. This means cutting down on things like orange juice, coffee, and red wine.
- Fourth, we can fit you with a mouth guard that is a low-cost way to help you stop grinding your teeth at night when you sleep. Just pop in the guard at night when you sleep to help you stop this behavior.
- Finally, there are also cosmetic ways to cover the tooth to help lessen tooth sensitivity. Ask us about your options.
Unfortunately, enamel cannot be replaced. However, we can help you correct the problems of sensitive teeth as part of your regular checkups. If you’re feeling any pain on hot and cold contact, call your Las Vegas cosmetic dentist, Dr. Hadley today – we can help.