Sensitive Teeth: Causes + 5 Steps to Prevention
What Causes Sensitivity in Teeth?
Your teeth become sensitive when minerals are lost due to acid, plaque and bacteria attacking your enamel. Sensitive teeth are a major inconvenience and can be triggered by even the smallest temperature changes. Exposure to hot/cold drinks or foods and even mouth care products can cause pain and discomfort. Sugar also causes enamel loss and damage. Unfortunately, enamel loss is becoming a serious problem for kids. With increasing amounts of sugar in everything from sports drinks to snacks, children are susceptible to sensitive teeth. If you flinch when drinking hot or cold beverages or if you avoid ice cream for fear of tooth sensitivity, your tooth enamel may have been weakened. Our Madison dentists are here to offer tips and tricks for keeping your enamel healthy and in good condition.
There are many triggers of tooth sensitivity. And the products that do so might surprise you. Causes of tooth sensitivity can include:
- Applying commercial teeth whitening products
- Brushing teeth too hard
- Using hard bristled toothbrushes
- Clenching or grinding of teeth
We recommend our approach to teeth whitening over other commercial teeth whiteners. The trained dentists at Total Care Dental will safely whiten your smile without inducing sensitivity to your teeth.
How to Prevent Sensitive Teeth in 5 Steps
The best way to solve tooth sensitivity is to take proper care of your mouth. Simple steps to improve your oral health can include:
- Brushing your teeth 2 times daily with a soft toothbrush
- Using mouth once at least once daily
- Flossing daily
- Eliminating sugary and acidic beverages such as soda and orange juice
- Visiting your Madison dental clinic twice per year for a thorough cleaning and checkup
As a bonus tip, use fluoride-enhanced mouthwashes and toothpaste when possible. Following these steps to proper dental care can help redeposit the minerals lost back into your teeth. Be sure to maintain a consistent diet full of teeth-healing foods (meat, dairy, eggs and nutrient-rich vegetables and fruits) as the final step to full tooth sensitivity prevention.
Contact the dental care professionals at TCD Madison for treatment of sensitive teeth or call 608-274-1911.
