Sensitive teeth and gums can be frustrating to live with—suddenly you have to plan your day around minimizing discomfort. We are here to reassure you that you don’t need to live like this, and manage discomfort, forever. Keep reading to get more information from our O’Fallon dentists…
What Causes Dental Sensitivity?
The first thing that our O’Fallon dentists do when treating dental sensitivity is to identify the underlying cause of your discomfort. When your smile is healthy, strong dental enamel and resilient gum tissue effectively cover sensitive tooth layers and nerves. If your teeth or gums begin to weaken, however, you will likely experience some pain and sensitivity as a result.
Dental pain can be a sign that…
- Your dental enamel is too thin
- Your tooth is damaged due to infection or injury
- Your gum tissue is infected
- You are (often unknowingly) putting an immense amount of pressure on your teeth due to conditions like bruxism
Nailing down the underlying cause of dental pain is the first step in treating it. Our O’Fallon dentists will tailor treatment recommendations to suit your specific situation. You may benefit from…
Lifestyle changes: for example, refrain from switching rapidly between hot and cold consumables; talk to your dentist about gentle whitening formulations if conventional treatments are uncomfortable; don’t pick at your smile with metal or wooden toothpicks.
Soothing, sensitivity-safe products: if standard toothpastes are too abrasive for your smile, it may be time to look for oral hygiene products that are specifically designed for sensitive teeth. Additionally, there are a number of mouth rinses on the market that work to sooth irritated dental nerves. Your dentist can help you decide what type of formulation is appropriate for daily use.
Promoting healthy and thick enamel: fluoride is known to boost enamel remineralization, thus protecting dental enamel. While most of us use oral hygiene products that contain fluoride, and drink fluoridated water, topical treatments can deliver further benefits.
Undergoing restorative treatment: sometimes the best course of action is to cover a patient’s natural tooth structure with a restorative material, like composite resin or porcelain. Once applied to the teeth, these materials create an additional protective layer between irritants and your dental nerves.
Ready to regain a healthy and comfortable smile? Contact our O’Fallon dentists by phone, or through our Contact Us page to get started!