Are your teeth starting to feel a little more sensitive than they once did? Are cold or hot items making it difficult to chew? If so, you’re probably struggling to eat and hoping the pain will go away. Unfortunately, sudden changes in tooth sensitivity are often signs of new issues. Roughly half of North American adults show signs of gum disease, so you’re not alone, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek treatment.
Teeth get sensitive for several reasons, but they don’t typically just become more sensitive out of the blue. We’re going to look at some of the reasons why you could be experiencing sensitivity today. Hopefully, the ideas below give you the insight you need to move forward with treatment and find relief. Let’s get started.
Beginner’s Guide to Tooth Sensitivity
In most cases, sensitivity in particular teeth relates to the wearing down of enamel. Enamel covers your teeth, protecting the dentin (tissue) and nerves contained inside.
When enamel wears away, those nerve endings are much more exposed to the heat and cold of the food you’re eating. This exposure could even make it difficult and overwhelming to chew.
Enamel wears down for several reasons. You might be grinding your teeth, eating too many acidic foods, brushing too hard, or not brushing enough! All of these root causes are identifiable by your family dentist in Edmonton. At Janz Family Dental, we can identify and treat the root causes.
Gum Disease and Pain
Gums are there to protect and hold your teeth firmly in place. When an individual experiences gum disease or start to see their gumline recede, they might notice a corresponding increase in sensitivity.
It’s important to get gum disease treated early on because it can evolve into something much worse over time. In fact, advanced gum disease can even contribute to serious infections and heart attacks.
Oral Routine & Damaging Products
Enamel and gums suffer when we don’t take care of them. It’s very important that you maintain a healthy oral routine. Brushing, flossing, and the occasional splash of mouthwash are all very important.
You might notice an increase in sensitivity as you start to slack on your oral routine. Fortunately, our dental office at Janz Family Dental in Edmonton can get you back on track with the tools and information you need.
What Is a Dentist Going to Do?
If you’re experiencing increased sensitivity, the best person to see is the dentist. At Janz Family Dental we will diagnose the issue, giving you some insight into the specific reasons that it’s happening. Then, we can work with you to restore enamel, improve gum health, and repair most, if not all of the damage that’s occurred already. Further, regular visits to our dentists can prevent these issues from happening in the first place.
So long as you get regular checkups and maintain a healthy oral routine, odds are that you’ll avoid most preventable dental issues.
Looking for the Best Dentist?
We hope our look at tooth sensitivity was useful to you. There’s a lot more to learn, though. We’re here to help.
Janz Family Dentistry is here to give you the insight and care you need to keep your teeth happy. Contact us to learn more or schedule an appointment.
