Ah, yes! Ice cream! Who doesn’t love an old-fashioned cone? I think most people do; except if you dig in and are greeted with a sharp, highly undesirable sting. You know what I’m talking about – the sting of sensitivity! If that doesn’t spoil an ice cream cone, among many other hot and cold food/drink items, I don’t know what does. Luckily, Leslie Seldin, DDS, a dentist in New York City and a spokesman for the American Dental Association (ADA), assures that you don’t have to put up with the pesky sting of sadness. With most problems, there are solutions; so, here are some causes of tooth sensitivity, supplemented by possible solutions:
1) There’s too much bang to your brush. In other words, you may be applying a bit too much pressure or using a bristle that’s too hard for your teeth and gums. Being too blunt with your brush-force can, over time, wear down the layers protecting your teeth, which subsequently exposes your little buddies’ dental nerves to whatever you’re eating or drinking; thus triggering discomfort when you eat something hot, cold, sticky or acidic. Solution: Brush a bit gentler or switch to a softer-bristled toothbrush.
2) Acidic foods are a no-no for some. If you notice that certain acidic foods like lemon or pickles cause that not-so-welcome sensitivity sting to occur, your teeth may be telling you something. Solution: don’t eat those foods.
3) You have to save the grinding for those coffee beans. If you grind your teeth, you’re inevitably wearing down the enamel (protective layer), thus exposing the middle layer of the tooth to whatever you eat. Solution: Dr. Seldin suggests a guard of sorts to prevent the grinding from happening.
4) The tale’s in the toothpaste. If you use teeth-whitening toothpaste and notice sensitivity, you may be having a poor reaction to the formula of that type of toothpaste. Solution: switch toothpaste.
5) Mouthwash is friend, not food. You could be going a bit overboard on the mouthwash, which similar to the teeth-whitening toothpaste has a specific formula that your teeth may not be too keen on. Solution: go for the fluoride-based mouth rinses; or try to nix the mouthwash altogether, and step up your brushing and flossing game to make up for it.
6) Your gums are not happy campers. If your gums start receding, especially with age and/or poor dental health, your teeth will likely be sensitive. Gum disease is no joke, so for this one… Solution: go see your dentist.
7) The plaque has stacked. Having excess plaque can wear away that trusty enamel, which can result in tooth sensitivity. Solution: make sure your daily dental health game is on point, and make those visits to the dentist every six months, if not more, for a cleaning.
8) You’re fresh out of the chair. If you’ve just had a dental procedure done, it won’t be uncommon to have some tooth sensitivity; especially after something like a root canal or crown placement. Hang tight for a short bit to give your teeth time to get their stuff together. If you’re still feeling sensitivity after that while… Solution: Head back to the doc’s chair. It could possibly be an infection.
Rest assured, if you’re feel sensitive in the dental region, there is hope! Dr. Seldin suggests specific toothpastes that focus on sensitivity for low to moderate sensitivity. However, if your sensitivity seems to be severe and persistent, don’t hesitate to go see your dentist. They’re there to help you, after all!
Tooth Sensitivity Tips Queen Creek 85142
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