When should I be worried about sensitive teeth?

It is not uncommon to have sensitive teeth; we’ve found sensitive teeth Essex are more common for 20 to 40 year-olds, but we’ve seen teens to 70 year-olds reporting sensitive teeth for the first time, with a bias towards women. If you’ve tried treating your sensitivity at home for 2 or more weeks without improvement is time to book an appointment with us. If not let’s go through some at-home treatments and probable causes.sensitive-teeth-essex

Common causes

The outer layer of the teeth is the enamel, its whitish and almost opaque; it’s the hard shell defending the softer porous dentine beneath. If and when the dentine is exposed, the tooth can become sensitive. This usually starts at the base of the tooth where it meets the gum line where it is the thinnest. But how could the enamel have been damaged or why is the dentine exposure resulting in sensitive teeth Essex?

  • Tooth whitening; the two methods used in tooth whitening are abrasive, which could remove layers of enamel if poorly performed and bleaching can chemically alter the enamel and make it porous.
  • A cracked tooth or filling; if the sensitivity has come on suddenly and is very severe this is probably the cause.
  • Tooth grinding; this where the enamel on the top of the teeth is gradually eroded; if the tips of your teeth are sensitive this could be why.
  • Gum recession; the root of the teeth have no enamel and as the gum recedes with age they can become exposed. If your dentist discovers it at the base of most of your teeth and you are beyond middle-age this is likely to be the culprit.
  • Brushing too hard; too much of a good thing, brush erosion results in the loss of enamel due to overly enthusiastic brushing causing the enamel to thin.
  • Dental erosion; the calcium-based enamel is vulnerable to acid damage which can come from acidic foods or acid reflux. If you have regular heartburn or drink soda often this could be the source of the problem.

Home treatment

Prevention is always better than cure, but if you are past that point, look for a high fluoride toothpaste; at least 1350ppm. There are several brands targeted at treating tooth sensitivity and make all the lifestyle changes you can to stop it from getting worse.

If you have your teeth whitened talk to your provider about your sensitivity. If you have been whitening your teeth at home, consider stopping.

If you also wake in the morning with jaw stiffness, you could be grinding your teeth as you sleep. For night time grinding a mouthguard can be helpful to protect your teeth.

Brush twice a day with a soft to medium-soft toothbrush using small circular movements. Don’t brush your teeth immediately after eating, as acidic food softens enamel which could be easily eroded off by brushing. Dab the toothpaste on the affected areas and let it sit; do not rinse it off and once again, if there is not an improvement in 2 weeks come to see us about your sensitive teeth Essex.