Do you get an uncomfortable sensation or feel pain when drinking or eating cold, hot, sweet or acid beverages and food? Even brushing and flossing your teeth produce you a little but intense pain? If the answer is yes, then you may have tooth sensitivity, a very common condition that affects a large amount of the population and that everyone can suffer at any point of its life.
What is the Tooth sensitivity?
The tooth sensitivity, also known as dentin hypersensitivity, consists of a painful or uncomfortable feeling that is produced when the enamel layer that protects the teeth gets thinner or when there is a recession of the gums, leaving the roots of the teeth exposed.
The importance of tooth enamel and gums
The tooth enamel and gums are both responsible for protecting your teeth and roots from agents that produce the dentin hypersensitivity.
The tooth enamel is one of the most resistant substances of the organism and its main task is to protect the tiny nerve endings and blood vessels located inside of the teeth. When the tooth enamel gets worn down the teeth receive less protection and gets sensitive to sweet, hot, cold or acid food and beverages. In some cases even breathing in cold air can also produce a sensitive reaction and some pain.
The gums also have an important protection role to the teeth, especially for their roots, so when they get reduced the underlying surface of the teeth remains exposed, producing pain when getting in contact with certain kind of drinks and foods.
Causes of Tooth Sensitivity
Some of the reasons that cause the wear of the tooth enamel and the gum recession that leave the teeth exposed to sensitivity are:
- Brushing the teeth in an aggressive way using a hard grip or toothbrush with hard bristles.
- The consumption of acid beverages or foods that produce tooth erosion.
- Issues related to bruxism like grinding your teeth at night.
- Consuming foods or sweet drinks that promote the proliferation of bacteria.
- Suffering from bulimia or gastro-esophageal reflux disease are health issues that can lead to tooth erosion.
Protecting Your Teeth from Sensitivity
The sensitivity that affects the teeth is a very common problem and anyone can develop it at any point of its life. You don’t need to worry, this condition can appear and disappear over time, but here is some advice to help you avoid suffering this problem and its consequences:
- Brush your teeth gently every day and after every meal. Make sure to pick a toothbrush with soft bristles that does not hurt your gum.
- To brush your teeth use a special toothpaste for sensitivity problems.
- At least once a day clean the interdental space with the help of floss or some special brush.
- Avoid going to bed without brushing your teeth.
When was the last time that you enjoyed eating your favorite ice cream or drinking a hot coffee in the morning without suffering from tooth sensitivity? Follow these tips and don’t let sensitivity ruin your meals again!