Sensitive teeth are a chore to have. But even more of a task to discover you have them. You could be enjoying a lovely ice cream cone when suddenly your teeth begin to seize up. Pain starts to shoot up each area that’s come into contact with the deceptively delicious cold treat. Sound familiar? You might have sensitive teeth.
It might be best to ask why teeth get sensitive in the first place. In that case, there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is tooth sensitivity is something you develop. The good news? It isn’t a permanent condition. Treat it early enough, and you might still be able to reverse the effects. Then, after knowing this, we can look at how to whiten sensitive teeth.
What are Sensitive Teeth?
First things first, why do teeth get sensitive, anyway? Well, there are several reasons. You might have some hidden cavities in individual teeth, which can grow painful over time. You could have a chip in your tooth near the pulp cavity. Or you might have a filling that’s coming off.
What seems to be shared among these experiences is an exposure of your teeth’s inner layers. Aside from cavities and chips, this is also caused by thinning enamel and root exposure. Why? Because beneath the enamel, there’s a layer of the tooth that’s particularly receptive to sensations. Called the dentin, it’s what tells your teeth if they’re near something hot, cold, or if they’re under a lot of pressure. When exposed, this heightens the responses you get to these things, which can be uncomfortable.
Dentin hypersensitivity involves 3 million cases in the US each year. According to the National Health Institute, the condition has a prevalence of 12.3 percent among patients. An average of 3.5 teeth is hypersensitive. Tooth sensitivity is also higher among 18- to 44-year-olds than those over 65-years-old. There are also more tooth sensitivity cases in women than in men.
Dentin hypersensitivity causes pain due to the exposure of the inner tooth layer or dentin. Dentin contains microscopic tubules. When the protective layer, the enamel, wears out and exposes the dentin, cold and heat reach the nerves and cells inside the tooth. This is what causes the sensitivity and pain that one feels. Therefore, many tooth sensitivity sufferers avoid the consumption of hot or cold foods and drinks.
What Causes It?
Gum recession can cause the exposure of the dentin. Thus, this often results in hypersensitivity. Brushing too hard may also lead to tooth sensitivity because it can wear the enamel. Additionally, a recent dental procedure like a dental filling or teeth whitening can temporarily cause mild tooth sensitivity.
Consumption of sugary and acidic foods causes oral bacteria’s rapid growth. Over time, if not given attention, it will lead to the enamel’s deterioration and may cause tooth decay. A cavity can also cause tooth sensitivity because it can result in the exposure of the dentin. Other causes of tooth sensitivity are teeth grinding and fractured teeth.
How Sensitive Teeth are Diagnosed
Dentin hypersensitivity is usually self-diagnosable. It is typically triggered by eating cold or hot food and drinks, eating sugary and sour foods, breathing in cold air, and brushing. When these activities cause sharp pain that worsens with pressure, there is a strong chance that your teeth are in fact, sensitive.
How to Treat Tooth Sensitivity
Fortunately, teeth sensitivity is treatable and usually resolves within months. A variety of treatments are also available upon the recommendation of a dentist. Common treatments include desensitizing toothpaste, fluoride gel, crowns, inlay or bonding, a surgical gum graft, or a root canal.
- Desensitizing toothpaste contains compounds helpful in blocking the transmission of sensitivity from the surface to the nerve.
- Fluoride gel helps in strengthening the enamel, preventing it from wearing away and expose the dentin. Aside from this, a fluoride gel reduces the transmission of the pain.
- A crown, inlay, or bonding can correct the decayed tooth or teeth.
- Surgical gum grafts defend the root and reduce sensitivity if gum tissue has been lost from the root.
- Your dentist may recommend a root canal if sensitivity has become severe and persistent.
How to Prevent Tooth Sensitivity
Keeping the right oral hygiene routines helps a lot in fighting off sensitivity. Brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash is vital to oral health.
If you are suffering from teeth grinding, you can opt for a mouthguard. Additionally, be sure to watch your diet. Consider teeth-healthy foods like celery, carrots, apple, and cheese, and avoid sugary and acidic foods.
For the right diagnosis and the proper treatments, a consultation with your dentist must be scheduled.
How to Whiten Sensitive Teeth
Before you get a tooth whitening session, then you might want to fix up what causes your teeth sensitivity if it’s due to a chipped tooth or tooth decay, more so. As for thinner enamel or exposed roots, you might want to ask your dentist what treatments you can undertake. Typically, you’ll be prescribed a desensitizing toothpaste or a bonding resin treatment.
But before we get into it, let’s first look into why our teeth get sensitive after a whitening treatment. Again, your teeth get discolored thanks to a build-up of particles in your enamel’s pores. Whether it’s because you smoke or because you indulge yourself in tannin-rich drinks, over time, small molecules from these habits pour into the pores bit-by-bit until they become visible.
Treatments then apply specific bleaching agents onto the teeth to break down that build-up. This means they need to enter the pores to fulfill that objective. What usually happens, then, is that the pores are left open post-treatment. This leaves the teeth dehydrated, which in turn shrinks the dentin layer of the tooth. Not even your favorite ice cream cone can save it.
Typically, your saliva remineralizes and rehydrates the tooth. Still, it usually takes time before the sensitivity goes away. To make the process less agonizing, then, a desensitizing gel with minerals is put on your teeth to alleviate the discomfort—especially for people with sensitive teeth. In the meantime, you might want to avoid the ice cream for now.