The most common cause of sensitive teeth is worn enamel or an exposed root, which irritates the nerve and sends the signal to your brain that something is wrong in the form of sharp pain. Sometimes, a chip or crack in the enamel is enough to reduce your tooth’s resilience to outside influences. Cavities and gum disease are also culprits in causing sensitive teeth. Contact Splendid Dental Woodlands by calling 713-587-9996 to find solutions for sensitive teeth.
Can I Treat Sensitive Teeth at Home?
If sensitive teeth become a significant issue, you should visit a dentist to find the underlying cause. If there is no severe damage to your teeth, your dentist may recommend treatments you can do at home that will desensitize your teeth, such as:
- Desensitizing toothpaste – Toothpaste made for sensitive teeth is available over-the-counter in a wide variety of flavors and formulas. It takes a little time for these to work, but they are often the best course of action for minorly sensitive teeth.
- Saltwater rinse – Mix 1/2 tsp. of salt in a glass of lukewarm water and swish it around for 30 seconds. This treatment can help ease the pain and kill bacteria in your mouth.
- Hydrogen Peroxide – As a mild antiseptic, mixing two capfuls of hydrogen peroxide with an equal amount of water can reduce inflammation. Be sure to rinse your mouth with regular water afterward to remove all the peroxide.
Avoiding foods and beverages that irritate your sensitive teeth combined with proper dental hygiene, and these treatments could solve your issue entirely.
Professional Treatments for Sensitive Teeth
The treatments involved in more complex causes of sensitive teeth will need to be done by your dentist. If the root is exposed, the dentist may need to perform one or more of these procedures:
- Fluoride – Your dentist may provide a fluoride treatment in the office or send you home with a product to treat your sensitive teeth. Fluoride helps fortify enamel and may help in boosting the shield that protects the nerves.
- Root canal – This is usually the last resort when other treatments fail to alleviate the pain of sensitive teeth. A root canal process involves removing the entire root of the affected tooth, thereby removing all the nerves.
- Bonding – If the tooth’s root is exposed, your dentist may suggest applying a bonding resin to the exposed area. This process is highly effective for desensitizing the tooth.
- Surgical gum graft – A periodontics procedure to treat gum disease might be your best course of action for sensitive teeth stemming from issues with your gums. In cases where gum disease or medications have caused the gum line to recede, your dentist may suggest a graft. This process involves taking a small piece of gum tissue from another area of your mouth and grafting it onto the affected area.
Trying to treat sensitive teeth at home when there is a much bigger problem to address will only lead to more pain. To maintain proper oral health, you must discuss all options with your dentist.
Proper Dental Hygiene is the Best Treatment
Your oral health affects more than just your teeth and mouth. Poor dental hygiene can lead to other problems in the body. Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. Please don’t ignore it. The best way to prevent issues is with routine visits to the dentist for professional teeth cleaning for plaque and tartar removal. By visiting your dentist regularly, you can get a handle on issues from the beginning. If you’re experiencing sensitive teeth, contact Splendid Dental Woodlands at 713-587-9996 to schedule an appointment so we can discover the root cause and get you on the road to good dental health.