Teeth sensitivity is a fairly common dental issue that can be a symptom of larger problems such as gum disease or a cracked tooth. Treatments include using desensitizing toothpaste to reduce discomfort, root protection treatments, or fluoride varnish treatments.
韓国インプラントUsually, teeth become sensitive when the enamel (white exterior) becomes worn down. This can happen due to:
Gum Disease
Gum disease is one of the major causes of teeth sensitivity. It affects the soft tissue of the gums and exposes tooth roots that are not covered by enamel. It’s important to treat gum disease before it progresses into periodontitis, which damages the bone that supports your teeth. Advanced gum disease can cause teeth to fall out, and it also leads to serious health concerns like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and more.
Receding gums can also lead to sensitive teeth. When the gums shrink and recede, it leaves the crown of each tooth exposed to everything you eat, drink or do, including cold air, hot drinks, sweet foods, or crunching on ice. The sensitive sensations you experience are caused by the roots of your teeth being exposed to these things, and the nerves that live inside them.
You can prevent tooth sensitivity from developing and getting worse by brushing your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and using fluoride toothpaste twice a day. Daily flossing helps to remove plaque and gingivitis, and mouthwash can kill bacteria in the mouth. In addition, a healthy diet and regular dental appointments keep the gums strong and help to prevent the build-up of tartar and plaque. If sensitivity persists, the dental team may recommend a de-sensitising tooth paste or gel, a fluoride rinse, or a protective varnish.
Tooth Decay
If your tooth feels sensitive to hot, cold, sugary or acidic foods and drinks it may be a sign of tooth decay. Tooth decay is caused by the bacteria in dental plaque which converts sugar to acids that damage teeth. If left untreated, tooth decay can lead to more serious problems such as a root canal infection or even a lost tooth.
The outer layers of your teeth are made of hard, protective enamel and cementum. The inside of your teeth contains softer dentin which is more vulnerable to damage from acid. Dentin also contains microscopic tubules which connect to the nerves of your teeth. When the dentin is exposed by a crack or chip in the tooth enamel, these tubules can allow heat or cold, or sugary and acidic food to reach the nerves causing sensitivity.
Tooth sensitivity can be a symptom of early stage tooth decay, but can also occur after treatment for other dental problems such as a scale and clean, filling or a crown. This sensitivity is usually temporary but if it persists or becomes painful, visit your dental team as they can advise you on pain relief.
Your dentist can recommend desensitizing toothpaste that contains compounds to block transmission of sensation from the tooth surface to the nerve. They can also prescribe fluoride gels, rinses or varnishes that help strengthen your teeth and reduce sensitivity.
Cracked Teeth
Taking care not to bite down on hard foods and avoiding habits like grinding your teeth can help prevent cracked teeth. But, sometimes cracks develop no matter how careful you are. Usually, cracks happen when a tooth is under stress, and the forces of chewing or biting can cause a fracture at the stress point.
A cracked tooth isn’t always painful, and it’s not always easy to tell if a crack has developed. That’s because symptoms vary depending on the type and location of the crack.
Craze lines are shallow fractures that affect only the enamel and look like faint vertical lines. These are the least serious types of cracked teeth and typically don’t require treatment. Cracks that extend through the root and into the dentin are more serious. These cracks can be painful, but they often aren’t until the pulp is affected and a dental infection develops.
If a cracked tooth isn’t treated, it can lead to the death of the nerve and an abscess. Eventually, the tooth may need to be removed. The best treatment is to see a dentist as soon as possible. A root canal or a crown will repair the damage and restore the tooth. This will protect the tooth from further damage and sensitivity. A root canal can take a few weeks to complete.
Root Canal
When a tooth is infected or dead, a root canal is often needed to save the patient from losing it. During this procedure, the dentist removes the nerve and blood supply from the tooth, leaving only the hard dentin core. The treatment can help relieve pain caused by sensitivity, and it can protect the remaining tooth from further infection and decay.
Although the treatment can be painful, the sensitivity should disappear within a few weeks of it being completed. If you continue to experience pain after the root canal, it is possible that it wasn’t done properly or that there are extra anatomical nerve canals inside the tooth. In these cases, it is essential to visit your dentist as soon as possible for a root canal retreatment.
In most cases, the dentist will prescribe some pain medication for the discomfort you’ll experience after the root canal treatment. If the sensitivity doesn’t go away in two weeks, you should visit your dentist or endodontist for further evaluation. In this case, you might need to have your root canal retreated using high-quality materials and a more detailed procedure to ensure the cleanliness of the tooth. Your dentist will also recommend the best treatment to restore your tooth and prevent it from cracking in the future. It is also important to visit a qualified dentist for this type of treatment, as they have a deeper knowledge, greater expertise, and more experience in this type of therapy.