Sensitivity can develop gradually in your teeth, making it difficult to eat certain foods. Many patients first notice the effects of their sensitivity when consuming something cold, such as ice cream. If preventative steps are taken, this can develop into oversensitivity with simply brushing your teeth. To avoid this pain in the future, let’s see what the causes are so you can take the proper precautionary measures and switch your existing bad habits.
Brushing Too Hard
This is actually one of the most common reasons that you are experiencing tooth and gum sensitivity. This can be brushing with too much pressure or simply using a brush that has a bristle that is too hard for your teeth and gums. When you consistently brush too hard it will wear away the protective layers of your teeth.
Losing that protective enamel can allow microscopic canals in the teeth to be exposed. Inside of these canals are dental nerves. This is why when you eat acidic, sticky, or even cold foods, you will notice discomfort. The best method for prevention here is to switch to a soft-bristled tooth brush and ease up on the pressure you use to brush. Try avoiding the foods that cause you major sensitivity until your enamel is rebuilt.
Tooth-Whitening Pastes And Mouthwashes
A simple glance at the label on any tooth-whitening paste will reveal a list of chemicals that are responsible for tooth sensitivity. When it comes to mouthwash, it’s likely an alcohol-based formula that is causing your problems. It’s important to realize that pastes and mouthwashes will affect people differently and those with less enamel will notice sensitivity with these products when others don’t.
The best means of prevention here is to switch to a non-whitening toothpaste. You don’t have to throw out your mouthwash, but you do need to change the type. Opt for neutral fluoride rinses. These options should clear up your sensitivity problems quickly. If you’re not sure whether your paste or mouthwash has these chemicals in them, you can always visit https://www.drnancyhalsema.com/ to set up an appointment to verify.
Teeth-Grinding
Bruxism, more commonly known as grinding your teeth at night, is a condition that wears down the enamel on your teeth. While it may seem difficult to know if you do this practice or not, there are some signs that should help you to determine if you do. Some of these include jaw pain in the morning, tight jaw, facial pain, and facial swelling.
This condition should be treated by wearing a proper mouthpiece at night. This will protect the enamel on your teeth so you’re not exposing your dentin and dental nerves. It’s best to opt for a customized mouthpiece as this will ensure the best fit to stay in place throughout the night. While this may not seem like a serious condition, it can drastically increase your tooth sensitivity over time.
If you have noticed your teeth are more sensitive than they used to be, it’s likely one of the causes above is the culprit. You should work on identifying what is causing your problem and then implement precautionary solutions. This will help you to avoid worsened sensitivity and assist in reversing your current sensitivity.
