It’s an all too familiar feeling: the sun is shining, birds are singing, and you’re revelling in the joy of being outside when you feel it. But then comes that nagging sharp, stinging feeling on your front teeth, more stubborn than a toothache; it’s enough to drive you to distraction.
Our teeth become sensitive when the underlying layer of your teeth (otherwise known as the dentin for those who belong to a weekday trivia team) becomes exposed due to the gum level breaking down. Ouch! The resulting pain that we feel comes from some form of stimuli, for instance, the different types of food coming into contact with the nerves within the teeth.
Top 10 factors that lead to tooth sensitivity
Brushing too hard
Harder doesn’t necessarily mean better unless you work with concrete in the construction industry. You might be making your teeth clean and sparkly, but you could be brushing your way to sensitive teeth.
Gum recession
Not nice to think about, but if your gums start to move away from your teeth due to conditions such as periodontal disease, it will cause significant discomfort.
Gum disease
Been diagnosed with gingivitis [link to gum disease blog]? Your teeth are likely to be more sensitive than usual especially if you notice any swelling, discolouration, or bleeding within the gums. Issues with gums can lead to sensitive teeth, so it pays to be aware of any changes in your gums.
Cracked teeth
Chipped or broken teeth leaves space for bacteria to form. This can lead to increased tooth sensitivity.
Teeth grinding
It’s thought that nearly 50 per cent of Australians grind their teeth at night. It might relieve stress, but it also wears away the enamel. To combat this, many of us have been prescribed night guards, which need to be cleaned properly (link to night guard blog) and regularly to maintain good oral health.
Tooth whitening products, toothpaste with baking soda and peroxide or excessive mouthwash use
Many modern dental products have a number of different chemicals in them. While they have been designed with your comfort in mind, excessive use can cause teeth sensitivity, as they can have an acidic reaction.
Age
You might think it’s young children who complain about their teeth hurting, but interestingly enough the age where your teeth are most sensitive is between the ages of 25 and 30. Could nights on the town have something to do with that? The danger to your teeth from excessive alcohol consumption is a result of the high sugar content and the dehydrating effect, which means there is less saliva in your mouth.
Plaque buildup
Otherwise known as the dentist’s devil, most of us experience some form of plaque buildup from day-to-day living but too much can be a real pain in the mouth. Plaque is a soft substance that contains millions of bacteria, and it can also be transferred to your night guard. A golden rule is if it goes in your mouth, there could be plaque on it, so proper cleaning of all dental aids is essential.
Eating acidic foods
As they say, ‘you are what you eat’ and what you eat has a significant influence on your oral health. Regular consumption of foods with a high acid content, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, pickles and tea, can cause enamel erosion.
Recent dental procedures
If you’ve undergone dental procedures such as a routine hygiene clean, this can lead to increased tooth sensitivity for at least a couple of weeks.
Take care of your teeth and they’ll take care of you
There are so many different contributing causes, but the question remains how can I stop it?
Your oral health is crucial to enjoying good overall health and, since science has yet to develop a way to regrow your teeth once your adult teeth come through, you need to take care of them.
We all remember the thrill (and, yes, pride even), of losing our baby teeth. Money for nothing right? But then we’re faced with the awesome responsibility of maintaining our own oral health.
The best way of decreasing your chances of experiencing tooth sensitivity is to be ‘tooth-aware.’ Really evaluate your teeth cleaning regime.
- Do you brush regularly and thoroughly?
- Are you using a soft thistle brush?
- Do you use toothpaste for sensitive teeth?
- Do you hygienically clean your removable oral devices (retainers, night guards etc)?
For more information about how Dr Mark’s HyGenie can add to your sensitive teeth prevention plan, shop our products.
