What’s Contributing to My Tooth Sensitivity?
Knowing the Potential Cause(s) Is a Step In the Right Direction
Are you the type of person who needs to take extra precaution when sipping or biting into something cold or sweet? You’re not alone!
Tooth sensitivity that occurs as a result of a stimulus such as a change in temperature or exposure to sugar is extremely common and normal. With that said, there are a number of factors known to contribute to a tooth sensitivity problem that our Milton dentist advises against.
These factors include:
1. Diet
Your diet may be to blame for your particularly sensitive teeth if you happen to consume a lot of acidic foods and beverages. This is because these kinds of substances have the tendency to erode the tooth enamel, exposing more of the nerves underneath.
2. A harsh tooth brushing technique
Brushing with more force than necessary contributes to enamel erosion AND gum recession – two problems that expose more of the sensitive underlying layer of the tooth (the dentin).
3. Tooth decay
An untreated cavity can cause a lot of pain, as the damage from the decay exposes more of the tooth/nerves that exist beyond the tooth enamel.
4. Gum disease
Gum disease can progress to the point of causing serious damage to the gums, causing them to recede. Like we mentioned in #2, receded gums expose more of the tooth and nerves, making a smile more susceptible to sensitivity and pain.
5. Bruxism
A habit of grinding or clenching the teeth together (often during sleep) can wear the teeth down to the point where they are weak and experience sensitivity that much more easily.
6. A recent teeth whitening treatment
A teeth whitening procedure can cause temporary tooth sensitivity. This is totally normal and doesn’t often continue for long after the time of treatment – typically 48 hours at most.
We hope this article has been helpful to you if you suffer from tooth sensitivity! You can always take the steps to prevent your sensitivity from worsening by addressing any of these above factors.
