What is tooth sensitivity

• Your diet has acidic food or beverage.  If the dentin is exposed, acidic foods such as beer, wine, fruit or vegetable juice can cause pain. Use common sense: have food and drink that have no acids and won’t cause you pain.
• You’re a tooth-grinder. Grinding your teeth can wear down the enamel, even though it’s the strongest substance in your body. By doing so, you expose the dentin, which grinds easily and is sensitive. Dr. Kaufman can make a mouth guard that can stop you from wearing you teeth down.
• You use too much force when brushing. Sometimes tooth sensitivity comes from brushing with too much force or with a hard brush. Over time, you wear down the protective layers of your teeth and expose the microscopic hollow canals in the dentin that lead to your dental nerves. When these canals are exposed to hot or cold or to acidic or sticky foods, tooth sensitivity and discomfort can be the result. The simplest solution is to be gentle when you brush with a soft tooth brush.
• You choose tooth-whitening toothpaste. Many manufacturers add tooth-whitening chemicals or particles that wear your teeth to their toothpaste formulas, and some people are more sensitive to them. If your sensitivity started after you switched to this toothpaste, consider switching your toothpaste.
• Your mouthwash causes sensitivity. Like whitening toothpaste, some over-the-counter mouthwashes and rinses contain alcohol and other chemicals that can make your teeth more sensitive. Consider if you need the mouth wash and use neutral fluoride rinses which are better.
• You’ve got gum disease. Receding gums expose the dentin and can lead to tooth sensitivity. If you suffer from gum disease or gingivitis Dr. Kaufman has much experience in treating the gum disease. Once the gums are healed there are procedures to seal the dentin and prevent the snesitivty.
• You plaque causes decay and sensitivity.  An excessive build-up of plaque can cause your enamel protection to wear away and expose the dentin. The solution is to practice good daily dental care and come and see us  every six months — or more frequently if necessary for cleaning your teeth.
• Your tooth is recovering from a dental procedure. It’s common to have some sensitivity after a root canal, an extraction, or the placement of a filling. If your sensitivity doesn’t disappear after a  few weeks come and see us since there may the need for more treatment.
• Your tooth is cracked. A chipped or cracked tooth can cause pain that goes beyond tooth sensitivity. Dr. Kaufman can evaluate if your tooth is cracked and decide the right course of treatment.
• There is decay at the edges of fillings. Over time fillings can wear and fracture or leak around the edges. It’s easy for bacteria to accumulate in these tiny crevices, which causes tooth breakdown. This type of sensitivity is the most important kind since it is a warning sign of real damage to the tooth and requires immediate attention.

If your sensitivity is extreme and persists no matter what you do, come and see Dr. Kaufman for a comprehensive examination. This is a warning sign contact us to make an appointment.