Don’t be so sensitive!

Even a tiny twinge can indicate more serious dental problems so don’t ignore tooth tenderness. And remember anyone can get a little touchy in the tooth department, though it does tend to be more common in people aged between 20 and 40 and women are more likely to be affected than men.

Why are my teeth so touchy?

Underneath that lovely layer of tooth enamel lies our normally demure dentine. Sometimes, if given the right conditions, dentine feels like showing off and that’s when the painful problems begin. So what makes dentine want to expose itself?

• Acid (the food and drink variety) can launch a damaging attack on our enamel defence meaning that dentine gets the chance to reveal itself.
• If you’re too enthusiastic with a toothbrush, it can wear away enamel, especially where the teeth meet the gums.

Your gums also have a big part to play:

• Ageing can cause gums to recede meaning roots get an unwelcome airing and as they have no protective coating this can lead to oral ‘ouch!’ moments.
• Your pretty pink gums are vulnerable to being attacked by gum disease – caused by a pile up of plaque or tartar – which can cause the gum to shrink back. This pernicious disease can also cause pockets in the gum and even destroy the bony bit that supports the tooth – so keep ‘em clean!

Other sensitivity causing culprits include: 

• Tooth grinding – the clenching and grinding of teeth associated with this habit can wear down your poor tooth enamel.
• A cracked tooth or filling – problems run deep especially if the fissure leads from the biting surface all the way to the root meaning extreme temperatures become too hot to handle or painfully chilly.

Can you feel it?

You are much more prone to sensitivity when eating something cold (calories aren’t the only downside to ice cream), breathing in nippy air and occasionally from hot or even sweet or acidic food and drink.

It’s annoying – what can I do?

Toothpaste for sensitive teeth is a great place to start and there are tons of brands on the market. Try brushing with this twice a day or even rub directly onto sensitive areas and you should notice results within a few days or several weeks.

Should I see the dentist?

If you’ve tried treating the problem at home for a few weeks and if you don’t notice any improvement, then by all means, come and see us. We can whip up some terrific treatments so you’ll be able to say goodbye to your sensitive side.

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