Do you have sensitive teeth? These are the possible causes
People with sensitive teeth will recognise this immediately: drinking a glass of cold water or eating ice cream causes intense nerve pain in your teeth. It’s very annoying and we’d love to have teeth that aren’t so sensitive. Well, as soon as you know what the cause behind your sensitive teeth is, you can do something about it.
These are the seven possible things that might be at the root of the problem!
1. Receding gums
Trust us, you’re definitely not the only one who’s suffering from sensitive teeth: nearly half of the population deals with tooth sensitivity sometimes. Tooth enamel and gums protect the dentine. However, as we get older, our gums tend to recede, exposing the dentine. As soon as the dentine comes into contact with cold food or drinks, you can experience a very annoying pain.
2. Damaged gums and tooth enamel
Does it seem as if the sensitivity in your teeth is only getting worse? Then it’s possible that your gums and/or tooth enamel are damaged. This type of damage can also cause the dentine to be exposed. The cause of gum or enamel damage can be derived from the following points.
3. Brushing
Brushing our teeth is a good thing, right? Well, yes, but it’s also possible to brush too hard or too often. The more vigorous you are when brushing your teeth, the more you can damage your gums or enamel. Brush your teeth twice a day in sessions of about three minutes and make soft, circular motions.
4. Grinding
Oftentimes, people don’t realise they grind their teeth because they do it when they’re asleep or they do it subconsciously when they’re stressed. However, teeth grinding can severely damage the enamel on your teeth. Once the enamel is gone, it won’t come back again. So, try to be more mindful during the day so you’ll notice when you’re grinding your teeth. A special night guard for your teeth can also help to lessen nightly grinding. If you want to try out a night guard, contact your dentist about the possibilities.
5. Dental erosion
Tooth enamel can be damaged by acidic food or drinks; the acid causes you to brush off the enamel more easily when you’re brushing your teeth. That’s why it’s best to avoid acidic food and drinks as much as possible. Examples of these types of food and drinks are fruit juices, wine, vinegar, soft drinks of citrus fruits.
6. Oral hygiene
Unfortunately, there’s not a lot you can do about receding gums, which happens as you get older. However, you can slow down the process a lot by maintaining your oral hygiene. Brush and floss your teeth daily to keep your gums healthy for as long as possible.
7. Cavities or cracked teeth
Do none of the causes we mentioned above seem to fit with your problem? Then there’s a chance you have a cavity or a cracked tooth. This can also cause your teeth to become very sensitive. Visit your dentist for a checkup if your teeth sensitivity doesn’t go away.
