Sensitive teeth are a literal pain; they prevent you from eating ice cream on a hot summer day and stop you from ordering that hot chocolate on your way to work on a frosty morning. Many people try to grin and bear the brunt of having sensitive teeth, unaware that many dental surgeries around the UK can treat this common issue.
At College Street Dental Centre, our dentists in Petersfield can offer a wide range of options to our patients with sensitive teeth, getting you back to chomping on that ice cream in no time!
What causes tooth sensitivity?
Although sensitive teeth are a common problem, our dental team in Petersfield see patients everyday who have different issues causing the sensitivity, these can be wide ranging.
Acidic foods and drinks
In our day to day lives, we are surrounded by acidic products, from orange juice to coffee. If you have microscopic nerve pathways exposed in your teeth, this can cause a great deal of discomfort when consuming acidic products as well as hot and cold drinks.
Our dental team in Petersfield will provide your sensitive teeth with a coating of fluoride, which will block the exposed nerves, strengthen the tooth enamel and prevent nerves from becoming exposed in the future.
Tooth grinding
People often grind their teeth in their sleep. This can be due to excess caffeine consumption, medications or even underlying anxiety.
While it is important to limit caffeine use before bed, many people who suffer from anxiety cannot simply stop taking prescribed medications. Grinding of teeth can cause cracking and erosion of enamel, which exposes the nerves of the teeth.
If this is determined to be the cause of your sensitive teeth, our team can provide an oral mouthguard to wear as you sleep; it won’t stop you grinding your teeth, but it will stop the damage caused to your enamel.
Tooth decay
When you have a filling, it is possible for it to come loose without your knowledge and for bacteria to get underneath it. This can lead to tooth decay forming around the edge of your fillings, which when exposed to heat, can be very painful.
When this occurs, a new filling will be put in place of the old one, along with the removal of decay and a fluoride sealant.
Build-up of plaque
If you have a diet full of sugary foods and you are prone to not brushing twice a day, the build-up of plaque can cause the tooth enamel to break down, which will eventually lead to a cavity forming; this can also create sensitivity in the tooth.
Stubborn plaque build-up can easily be removed by a dentist or dental hygienist and your tooth can be resealed, but in this instance, the main change that can be made is by you sticking to that good old fashioned brush and floss twice a day, to prevent plaque building up again.
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