So what is tooth sensitivity?
Tooth sensitivity is when you get a brief pain or shock in your teeth caused by an outside source, like heat or cold. This heat or cold can come from weather, wind, water, even food. Your teeth have a shield, called the enamel. This is a very hard layer that protects the nerves below. But when this shield is compromised, it exposes the dentin underneath and the nerves to outside stimulus. When the outside source touches the exposed dentin on your teeth, it causes this sensation.
When your tooth nerve is stimulated, it causes pain. This type of pain is relatively common. In fact, as of 2013, one out of every eight adults experienced it regularly.
The Causes of Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity can take place at any age, but women are more likely to have it than men. Moreover, young adults between the age of 18 and 44 are also more likely to experience it because of receding gums.
There is a very long list of reasons why you might be feeling tooth sensitivity. It might very well take your dentist to uncover the more severe reasons.
When you schedule an appointment with your dentist for tooth sensitivity, they will conduct an oral examination and ask you questions about the pain. This is to help them rule out underlying problems like gum disease or tooth decay.
Other causes include:
1. Diet
Eating hard foods or acidic foods can increase your tooth sensitivity. We often don’t think about it, but sports drinks, juices, and citrus fruits can exacerbate this issue.
2. Chewing ice
Chewing ice is a bad habit. If you chew ice, you should try to quit. Why? Simply put, it can crack that hard layer of enamel or grind down your teeth.
3. Brushing too hard
We tend to mistakenly believe that brushing our teeth harder will clean them better. But this is far from true. Aggressive brushing will only increase your sensitivity and remove your enamel. If you are using a toothbrush with hard bristles, it can also cause tooth decay.
4. Teeth whitening treatments
If you undergo a tooth whitening treatment either at your dentist or at home, you might have tooth sensitivity as a temporary side effect. Using harsh whitening products too often or using products that are too harsh can also increase tooth sensitivity. One way to reduce your tooth sensitivity is to make sure you follow manufacturer’s instructions or instructions from your Tigard Dentist.
5. Tooth decay
A small cavity is strong enough to eat away at your tooth enamel and cause serious sensitivity. If you have tooth decay, you can talk to your dentist about getting a filling or a crown.
6. A split tooth
When you bite down and experienced severe sensitivity, it could be the sign of a split tooth.
7. Gum disease
As you age, your gums will naturally become more sensitive. However, if you have gum sensitivity early on in life, it could be the result of excessive flossing or gum disease.
8. Cold weather
Oddly enough, cold air rushing over your teeth can cause sensitivity. One quick and easy way to test this is to have your dentist blow air on your teeth.
9. Pregnancy
The hormonal changes involved in pregnancy can impact your gums. When this happens, it can lead to tooth sensitivity.
10. Sinus infections
Sinus infections cause inflammation in your sinuses which puts pressure on your teeth. If you have pain in your teeth and your head hurts more when you lean over, it could be a sinus infection that is causing your sensitivity.
11. Digestive disorders
If you are frequently vomiting or you have acid reflux, it can wear away at the surface of your teeth. Your stomach acid is incredibly strong, and it is not supposed to come back up so when it does it causes tooth sensitivity.
Related Article: When to visit your doctor for sensitive teeth
If you are experiencing pain or sensitivity for any reason, you can always book an appointment with your Tigard Dentist. In fact, the longer you go without seeing a dentist, the more likely a small problem can become a big one.
