Summer is one of the most exciting times of the year; endless days at the beach, drinking sweet, ice-cold lemonade and ending the day with your favorite ice cream cone. These can be some of the best ways to unwind and relax, unless the cold (or hot) beverages and food that you crave, cause pain in your teeth. This pain may mean that you are suffering from dentin hypersensitivity, also known as sensitive teeth. With teeth sensitivity, you may notice that there is a sharp pain when pressure is applied to the tooth, or when drinking or eating hot or cold food and beverages. At times, you may also feel a little pain if cold air touches your sensitive tooth. One of the main reasons for this pain and sensitivity is due to a receding gum line. However, this does not mean that your summer is reduced to steering clear of your favorite foods or dealing with pain! There are a few home remedies or clinical treatments that can help you:
Home Remedies
While the pain may be anything from mild to severe, it is important to know that tooth sensitivity is incredibly common, affecting more than 3 million people in the US, between the ages of 20-70. As it is a common problem, there are several ways to treat the issue at home so you can continue to spend your summer with ease and enjoyment. One of the first issues may be that your tooth enamel is worn down. Tooth enamel is the hard casing that protects your teeth from food and drinks, so when it is not as strong as it should be, pain can arise. In order to take care of your enamel and be sure that it is as resilient as possible, you can: brush your teeth lightly, avoid acidic foods and drink and decrease bleaching frequency. A few other ways to reduce tooth pain because of sensitivity include increasing the amount of fluoride going to your teeth, using tooth sensitive toothpaste, and avoiding cold or hot foods for a few weeks.
In Office Treatment
If you have tried all of the home remedies mentioned above and nothing is helping, it may be time for you to consult with your dentist. They will be able to assist when the basic home remedies are no longer effective. For instance, they will look at your teeth and listen to your symptoms and determine if you need fluoride gels, or varnishes, which they can apply for you. If the pain does not subside, your dentist may decide that covering the area where the tooth and the gum meet is the best way to relieve pain. This protects previously exposed roots and nerves,
Tooth sensitivity is not something you have to live with, and it is not something that you should let control your life this summer. Be sure that you follow the home remedies or consult with your dentist to ensure that you can continue to enjoy your favorite summertime foods and drinks.
Please visit Modern Dentistry of Shrewsbury for more information, and to schedule an appointment for questions about sensitive teeth.
