What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?

14 / 05 / 2018

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?

Sensitive Teeth? Get Them Checked For Potential Problems.

If you experience discomfort when you consume either hot or cold food and drinks, this means that the nerves within your teeth may be more exposed than they should be. This can be quite uncomfortable and may put you off eating certain foods, perhaps even denying you the pleasure of nice ice cream on a hot summer’s day.

There are a number of possible reasons for your heightened tooth sensitivity, and our Ipswich dentists take a look at a few of these below.

Enamel erosion

If you eat a lot of acidic foods or drinks or brush your teeth too hard, there is a strong possibility that the enamel of your teeth will have eroded over time. When this happens, it offers less protection to the dentin layer beneath it. This layer is more porous and allows easier access to the nerves. Without healthy enamel, there is every chance that your teeth will be sensitive to hot and cold.

Cracked tooth

Even if you cannot see it yourself, if you have a sudden sensitivity to hot and cold, you may well have suffered a minor crack in your teeth. As above, this will expose the dentin layer, leading to more sensitive teeth. If you notice a sudden change such as this, you should arrange an appointment at the Lighthouse Dental Practice to have it checked, as soon as possible.

Receding gums

When our gums recede, they expose the roots of our teeth which are less well protected. This can generally be avoided by not brushing too hard and wearing the gum away, and also making sure that your gums are kept healthy. Our Ipswich dental hygienist is available to help you to do this and to provide useful advice for your personal oral care.

Root canal infection

If the root canals of your teeth have become infected, you are likely to notice significant discomfort on exposure to extremes of temperature. You should always have this checked as soon as possible. Tooth sensitivity may seem to be the least of your problems if an abscess develops!

There are a number of treatments available which can help to eliminate or reduce any heightened tooth sensitivity. Here are some examples below.

Badly eroded surface enamel – Replace the damaged tooth surface with porcelain veneers.

Cracked teeth – Depending on the type of damage, either a filling, veneer or bonding may be an option.

Gum recession – Prevention with regular gum care is the best option. However, if the recession has already started, you may be advised to see a specialist gum dentist called a periodontist.

Infected root canals – a root canal procedure will be necessary to restore a tooth affected in this way.

If you have sensitive teeth, you should always have them checked by one of the dentists at the Lighthouse Dental Practice as soon as possible.

Please call our Ipswich clinic on 01473 257 379.

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If you would like to speak to a member of our friendly team about any of the issues in this article please visit our contact page or call us on 01473 257379.