How to Treat Sensitive Teeth

Do you suffer from chronically sensitive teeth?  Many patients avoid eating or drinking their favorite hot and cold foods and beverages because their teeth are so sensitive. Thankfully, there IS something you can do about it!

What Causes Sensitive Teeth?

Sensitive teeth can be caused by an array of issues, including tooth erosion due to highly acidic foods and beverages, tooth decay or broken teeth, gum recession, grinding your teeth at night, and worn tooth enamel due to brushing aggressively.

Most commonly patients that suffer from sensitive teeth usually have gum recession. Recession is when the gums creep higher and expose the root of the tooth. The roots of our teeth are very sensitive to temperature when they’re not covered by the gums. They can easily be worn down by toothbrush bristles or even the acid in our daily foods and drinks leaving notches or grooves. Reasons that recession can occur include-brushing too hard, plaque buildup, bone loss and clenching/grinding

Solutions

Some treatments for sensitive teeth include:

1. Sensodyne toothpaste is a great option, and should be used every day to see results. This toothpaste includes fluoride, provides long-lasting sensitivity protection and relief.  
2. Consider small white fillings to cover the notched out area on the root (called buccal fillings).
3. Gum grafting to restore the tissue loss.

Try some of these techniques and say goodbye to sensitivity. If you are located in the Williamsburg area and are tired of living with tooth sensitivity, contact us today for more information.