Managing Tooth Sensitivity

Suffering from tooth sensitivity can be painful and, if the sensitivity goes untreated for long enough, can start to interfere with your everyday life. Teeth can be sensitive to sugary food, hot and cold temperature, or even simply to the air you breathe.

Oftentimes, tooth sensitivity is caused by the wearing down of the tooth’s enamel. Enamel, the outer protective layer of the teeth, covers and protects the tooth’s sensitive nerve endings. When the enamel begins to wear away, these nerve endings are exposed, causing the sensitivity and pain.

How To Manage Tooth Sensitivity

Luckily, there are a number of ways to manage sensitive teeth. Below are a few of the best options:

• Avoiding acidic foods or drinks. Acid will wear away and weaken the enamel more quickly than anything else! This means you should stay away from pickled foods, sodas, juices, and red wines. If you do consume acidic food or beverages, make sure to brush your teeth immediately afterwards to decrease the amount of contact the acid has with your tooth enamel.
• Switch to toothpaste made for sensitive teeth. There are many different types and brands of toothpaste for sensitivity, but you just need to make sure any toothpaste you choose contains Potassium Nitrate, which will help to protect the nerve endings.
• You may be brushing your teeth too roughly. Vigorous brushing is another cause of weakened tooth enamel. Be sure you’re brushing gently with a soft bristled toothbrush. As long as you’re brushing twice a day for two minutes at a time, there’s no need to be hard on your teeth!
• Consider dental sealants. Sealants are clear liquid plastic, which is painted and then hardened onto the tooth. Sealants serve to protect your tooth’s enamel from cavities and tooth decay, and can also decrease tooth sensitivity.

If you’re suffering from tooth sensitivity, please let Dr. Lockett know. We want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to ensure our patients’ comfort. To make an appointment, please contact Lockett Orthodontics today!