Dealing With Sensitive Teeth

When you are dealing with sensitive teeth, your favorite foods can turn into painful battles.

Desperation often causes people to restrict their diets in order to find relief. But since there are different types of tooth sensitivity, there are different methods of treatment. Luckily, these simple tips can help and just might be the key to your relief.

Don’t brush so hard: While it does take some force to remove plaque from your teeth, brushing with too much strength can cause problems. The defensive layers of your teeth can be uncovered due to over-brushing, resulting in tooth discomfort. This can also be caused by using a toothbrush that has too stiff or hard of bristles. Try using a toothbrush with soft bristles and brushing more gently to prevent this from happening.

Plaque buildup: Not brushing enough or too lightly can cause just as much harm as brushing too hard. Too much plaque will cause enamel to slowly disappear and losing this protective layer will lead to sensitivity. Prevent this by brushing daily and keeping up on your dental appointments.

Acidic foods: Once your dental nerves are exposed, acidic foods will cause more irritation. If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, stay away from foods with high acidity like oranges, tomatoes, and lemons.

Teeth grinding: Some individuals tend to grind their teeth in their sleep. Grinding your teeth will expose highly sensitive nerves that are extremely sensitive to any contact. Teeth grinding is commonly caused by stress so try taking time to relax before going to sleep. Mouth guards are also a simple way to protect your teeth from grinding damage.

Harsh Toothpastes and Mouthwashes: Several of the tartar control and whitening agents in toothpastes and mouthwashes can cause tooth sensitivity. Try swapping out your toothpaste and mouth wash products for others that are absent of these chemicals or that are specially designed for people with sensitive teeth.

Schedule an appointment with your Monarch Dental Dentist.