Sensitive Teeth | What Causes Them, And Is There a Permanent Cure?

Sensitive Teeth | What Causes Them, And Is There a Permanent Cure?

November 8, 2021 43 By mindmingles

Sensitive teeth can cause a lot of discomfort, so it’s important to understand what causes them and what your options are when it comes to treating this common issue.

Sensitive teeth are one of the most common dental issues people have. Studies show that 1 in 8 adults in the U.S. suffers from sensitive teeth, so knowing what causes sensitive teeth might help you avoid this sometimes painful experience.

 

Many dentists will recommend root canals as the cure for tooth sensitivity. But is there any other option available?

What Are the Most Common Triggers For Sensitive Teeth?

Nobody likes experiencing pain, especially when it comes to teeth. After finding the answer to the question “why are my teeth sensitive to cold”, it’s a good idea to know what are the most common triggers when it comes to teeth sensitivity. The most common triggers include:

  • Eating cold food or drinking cold beverages
  • Inhaling cold air through your mouth
  • Eating sweets or having sugary drinks
  • Brushing teeth with a hard toothbrush

If you experience sudden pain or discomfort in any of the scenarios above, it’s most likely you’re suffering from sensitive teeth. Of course, it’s best to schedule an appointment with your dentist so they can confirm your suspicion and get proper treatment.

Having regular dental examinations is the only way to keep teeth healthy in the long run. Even if you take perfect care of your oral hygiene, there’s a possibility of cavities or other dental issues you can face. Sensitive teeth are one of these issues.

To determine what causes sensitive teeth in your case, the dentist will need to do an evaluation of your teeth and can ask for digital scans if they don’t find the reason why you’re experiencing sensitive teeth.

Worn down enamel, cavities, and receding gums are a clear and visible sign why you’re experiencing sensitive teeth, and if you asked yourself, “Why are my teeth sensitive to cold?” it’s because the cold drink or food shouldn’t be so close to the root canals as they are. 

There are a couple of treatment options available for treating sensitive teeth. Before scheduling a root canal dentist procedure, make sure you know all the options available to you. Some of them include:

  • Using a desensitizing toothpaste
  • Using fluoride
  • Gum grafts
  • Root canals

Using desensitizing toothpaste and fluoride are common recommendations if your overall oral health is good and there are no clear signs of what causes sensitive teeth. Both can be used at home, but you should consult your dentist before using any of these products.

Getting a root canal dentist is recommended in most cases because it’s a permanent solution for tooth sensitivity in a particular area. The treatment is done under local anesthesia and requires the dentist to drill through your tooth, removing and cleaning root canals. 

It can take a couple of visits to get root canals, depending on the severity of your specific case. But it’s a permanent solution to sensitive teeth. The thing you should be aware of is that a root canal will eliminate sensitivity only around one tooth. So, if you’re having sensitivity on a larger area, it might not be the solution you’ve been looking for. 

Surgical gum grafts aren’t used as often because it’s a complicated procedure that requires taking soft tissue from your mouth and putting it over the root of the affected tooth. This is usually done when a person has an accident, and the exposed root is a direct result of the injury. When a person has receding gums, it’s usually the sign of a different type of dental issue that needs to be taken care of first.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Sensitive teeth don’t happen out of the blue. There is always a reason why people experience it, so it’s of the utmost importance to prevent it from happening instead of visiting a root canal dentist looking for a cure.

Taking good care of your oral hygiene is one of the first things you need to do. Brushing your teeth twice a day or even after every meal or snack is a great way to activate gums and make them more resistant. Flossing before you go to bed will help you remove any leftover debris that can cause serious complications if left under the gumline.

Regularly replacing your toothbrush is also important for preventing any type of dental issue. Make sure you always get a soft toothbrush that won’t irritate your gums. Investing in a high-quality toothbrush every few months is much more cost-effective than using the same brush for a longer period of time and having to go to the dentist to get your root canals.

Grinding teeth at night is one of the most common reasons why people have damaged enamel on their teeth. It’s more common than people think, but a small number of people take action to prevent it. 

A simple mouthguard is a great way of preventing this from happening. If you’re noticing your teeth becoming more sensitive and you’re asking yourself, “Why are my teeth sensitive to cold?” make sure you’re not grinding your teeth at night because it can be the main reason why you have sensitive teeth and frequent problems with cavities and toothache.

Regular visits to your dentist are as important as any other activity from this list. Even if you’re doing everything right, there’s always a possibility of a small cavity appearing without you even knowing. These cavities can cause sensitive teeth, but also a lot more serious issues that are better to be fixed as soon as possible than left untreated. Even getting a root canal is better than ignoring the early signs of dental issues.