Tips to Relieve Pain from Sensitive Teeth

Different problems can cause tooth sensitivity. Activities such as brushing, drinking, and eating can be unbearable most times. Fortunately, some tips can help reduce the pain from sensitive teeth. Some of these tips can work for you in the comfort of your home. To learn more, consider the following solutions.

• Use Desensitizing Toothpaste and a Soft Toothbrush

 
There is a particular toothpaste made for sensitive teeth. It helps provide relief from the pain that arises from sensitivity. Such desensitizing kinds of toothpaste have ingredients that fill the tiny holes in your dentin and enamel. As a result, they reduce the exposure that the sensitive nerves in your teeth receive. You should notice a decrease in tooth sensitivity and the pain resulting from it after a few weeks if used twice daily.

You can also relieve your sensitive teeth using a toothbrush with soft bristles. Abrasive toothbrushes with stiff bristles can cause microscopic holes in your enamel. As a result, they increase tooth sensitivity. Such toothbrushes also worsen gum recession and expose the dentin and sensitive nerves. Brush gently using a soft-bristled brush to preserve your tooth surface and gum integrity.

• Use a Fluoride Mouthwash

You can strengthen your teeth's enamel layer using an over-the-counter fluoride mouthwash. The fluoride also helps protect the teeth against cavities and decay that can cause tooth sensitivity. Ideally, rinse your teeth with mouthwash daily after brushing.

• Visit Your Dentist 

If you have tried using all the teeth sensitivity treatments you know and nothing has helped, visit your dentist. The sensitive teeth could be a warning sign that you have a more severe dental condition. You may have gum disease, worn fillings, a fractured tooth, or an exposed root that home remedies may not treat.

Considering in-office treatments can solve your problem if your tooth sensitivity is severe. Your dentist can use gel fluoride treatments, bonding, inlays, or crowns to cover the sensitive parts of your teeth that cause the pain. You may also need to get a gum graft or a root canal if you have unmanageable discomfort.

• Avoid Acidic Foods and Drinks

Avoiding acidic drinks can help keep your enamel from wearing away. Doing so helps reduce your risk for tooth sensitivity and pain. Such acidity can also cause your gumline to recede and expose nerves. Avoid carbonated sodas, citrus fruits, and citrus fruit-based juices. You can try to incorporate citrus fruits in meals as the foods serve as a buffer to lower the Ph level in the mouth.

Ensure you wait for at least 30 minutes after you eat such citrus foods before brushing your teeth. Your tooth enamel gets weak due to the acid and brushing immediately can damage the weakened enamel.



• Avoid Bleaching Your Teeth

 
Prevent temporary sensitivity by avoiding both in-office and at-home whitening kits. If you want to whiten your pearly whites and have sensitive teeth, you should consult your dentist before doing it yourself.

For more about sensitive teeth, visit Smile Center at our office in Delaware or Sunbury, Ohio. Call 740-417-9565 or 740-965-2451 to schedule an appointment today.