Struggling with tooth sensitivity pain? Your dentist can identify the cause of the dental damage that leaves you vulnerable to this type of oral discomfort when you schedule a dental exam. Treatment to relieve sensitive teeth will often depend on the underlying cause of your symptoms.
Do not delay this dental evaluation or the issue may worsen. Knowledge about the potential causes of this tooth pain can help you feel more comfortable during your upcoming dental appointment. So read on to discover some of the reasons you might develop tooth sensitivity.
Acidic Diet
Your diet can play a major role in your overall oral health. And certain foods and beverages may contribute to enamel erosion that may leave you with tooth sensitivity. Acidic food items, like citrus juices and fruits, can linger on your smile and eat away at your teeth.
Thinned enamel may expose underlying nerves in the dentin. If food or other external items touch the teeth in this condition, then you could experience tooth sensitivity pain. Pay attention to your diet and limit acidic or sugary foods that can lead to dental erosion and resulting side effects.
Poor Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene keeps your smile clean but also ensures that your teeth stay strong. Natural bacteria in your mouth will spread across your teeth throughout the day to create a film of plaque. The bacteria within plaque can then start to erode your tooth enamel and leave your smile sensitive.
Make sure you practice consistent flossing and teeth brushing in order to protect your smile. Use proper technique when you do this because harsh brushing habits might also irritate your enamel and cause tooth sensitivity. Consult your dentist for oral hygiene advice.
Tooth Decay
Sometimes a serious dental issue might be the cause of the enamel damage that leaves your teeth feeling sensitive. Many people may develop tooth decay, a condition in which oral bacteria begin to eat at the dental structure. If decay wears a hole into the tooth, dentists call the issue a cavity.
Your dentist will need to treat the cavity in order to relieve sensitivity and other related symptoms. They will give you a dental filling to restore the tooth’s structure and block any exposed nerves in the tooth.
Damaged Dental Work
Dental fixtures in your smile like a filling or a crown can treat tooth sensitivity. But if this dental work wears down, becomes loose, or otherwise suffers damage, the sensitivity may return or worsen.
Make sure you visit your dentist on a regular basis so that they can identify old or worn dental fixtures and replace them before this pain occurs. Do not wait to contact your dentist if you notice that dental work seems ill-fitting.
Tooth Injury
Sometimes you might suffer an acute injury to a tooth that will harm the enamel enough to cause sensitivity pain. If you crack or chip a tooth, it leaves a vulnerable spot where a stimulus can trigger an exposed nerve.
Tooth breakage like this can worsen quickly, so make sure you contact your dentist for urgent treatment of the problem right away. Restoring the tooth’s health will resolve tooth sensitivity too.