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Have you ever taken a drink of hot coffee or tea, or maybe even taken a bite out of a tasty ice cream cone and felt a pain in your teeth? This is an experience common to many people. Sometimes eating or drinking hot or cold items results in a feeling of pain. We call that having sensitive teeth. If you think you have sensitive teeth you're in good company a decent percentage of folks all have to live with sensitive teeth.
Luckily, this is a condition that can be treated, you just have to come in and let us help you. One of the things we're looking for when we talk about sensitive teeth is the semi-related factors that serve as triggers for people which can cause that tooth pain. Those things irritate your teeth and gums which leads to a pain response in your brain. You can have heat sensitivity, a cold sensitivity, or a sour sensitivity. Hot and cold sensitivities are fairly straightforward--your teeth are splashed with something hot or cold and they tell your brain that it's painful for them. Sour sensitivity may be a new one for you, but not for people who have experienced it. Sour sensitivity is when acidic foods and drinks cause you pain as you eat or drink them. Citrus fruits and drinks are the primary triggers here, although even the substances used for lime tortilla chips can trigger a sour sensitivity in some people.
If you have tooth sensitivity you probably already know what we're talking about. In fact, you can probably sit there and feel the pain that typically comes along with sensitive teeth as we're describing it. Sometimes the causes of sensitive teeth are fairly common. Some people have sensitive teeth because they regularly eat and drink acidic foods and beverages. No-brainer, right? But, other people can actually brush their way into a sensitivity because they brush their teeth too hard or use a toothbrush with bristles that are too hard. Imagine that! That's why learning to properly brush and floss is so important. Other folks might find that they grind their teeth at night and that action has created a sensitive teeth issue for them as the enamel breaks down through that grinding motion. Heartburn or reflux can also be a culprit because the acid from the stomach erodes the enamel of the teeth. And, of course, there may be other problems that a person is facing with their teeth that could also lead to sensitivity which we haven't covered here. There are lots of culprits, but you probably want to know what to do about it. Right?
Well, what do we do about it? There are a number of treatment options available from us and believe us, we want to help you. But there are some simple steps you can take to help reduce the amount of sensitivity you have toward heat, cold, and sour tastes right from the comfort of your own home. For one, you can use a soft bristled toothbrush to cut down on the amount of wear on your enamel. There are, also, toothpastes that you can try which purport to help strengthen the tooth enamel that you have which should act as a combatant against tooth sensitivity. If you're drinking filtered water or bottled water primarily there are fluoride options that can help strengthen your tooth enamel and reduce the amount of pain that you have. Of course, there are a few other treatment options that would require a trip either to the dentist or a periodontist to correct issues of the gums or the tooth roots.
If you’d like to learn more about the incredible things Invisalign can do for you and your smile, get in touch with us today to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Larry Majznerski, West Michigan’s first Invisalign Elite Preferred Provider! We can help you achieve the beautiful, healthy smile you deserve.
