Struggling with sensitive teeth? Here are 5 remedies to consider
Sensitive teeth can cause constant discomfort. The good news is that there are ways for you to manage the symptoms so they don’t prevent you from living life to the full.
If you often suffer from a short sharp jolt of tooth sensitivity pain, you will be aware of the discomfort of sensitive teeth.
Dentinal hypersensitivity is a condition that can develop over time as a result of enamel wear and receding gums and can occur when the softer, inner part of the tooth called dentin becomes exposed.
Thousands of microscopic channels run through the dentin towards the center of the tooth, where the nerves lie. Once the dentin is exposed, certain triggers (such as cold or hot food and drinks) can stimulate the nerves, resulting in that characteristic tooth sensitivity pain.
Tooth sensitivity is a worldwide problem that affects millions of people. Approximately 57% of people have said that they experienced tooth sensitivity.
Causes and triggers of sensitive teeth
Sensitive teeth can be caused by many factors such as:
Poor oral hygiene leading to receding gums
Tooth grinding
Tooth bleaching
Worn tooth enamel as a result of:
-Excessive consumption of acidic food and drinks
-Excessive or forceful brushing
The pain of sensitive teeth can be triggered by:
Cold foods or drinks
Breathing in cold air
Hot foods or drinks
Sugary foods
Sour foods
Ways to soothe your sensitive teeth
1.Instead of overbrushing, use a soft bristle brush to gently brush your teeth
Some people may think that the harder they brush their teeth, the cleaner they are. However, that isn’t the case.Brushing only cleans 25% of your mouth.
The harder you brush your teeth, the more wear and tear your enamel endures. This is why constant overbrushing could lead to dental hypersensitivity, causing your teeth to feel sensitive. On the other hand, gently brushing using a toothbrush with soft bristles can keep sensitivity at bay.
2.Use a daily sensitivity mouthwash twice a day
Daily sensitive mouthwashes are created for people with sensitive teeth and are designed to strengthen and remineralize tooth enamel, kill problem-causing germs, prevent plaque, and keep gums clean and healthy.
From a young age, heavy emphasis is placed on brushing your teeth. However, brushing targets just 25% of your mouth, removes only 30-53% of plaque and can miss a billion germs. Additionally, most adults only brush for 24-60 seconds and do not brush twice a day, which reduces the effects of tooth brushing.
By using a daily sensitivity mouthwash like LISTERINE TOTAL CARE SENSITIVE MOUTHWASH®, you’ll be able to target almost 100% of your mouth and kill 99.99% of harmful germs that cause bad breath, plaque & gum problems.
LISTERINE TOTAL CARE SENSITIVE MOUTHWASH® also contains potassium nitrate that protects against teeth sensitivity and fluoride that helps prevent cavities.
3.Give your teeth a break from whitening
Hydrogen peroxide is a common ingredient in professional and at-home whitening products as it is a bleaching agent. Due to its acidic nature, whitening gel can cause or worsen teeth sensitivity.
Whitening your teeth occasionally can brighten your smile and boost your confidence but doing it too often can weaken your tooth enamel and expose your dentin, making you more susceptible to teeth sensitivity and pain.
4.Relax your jaw and teeth
Those who grind their teeth and clench their jaw are probably familiar with waking up with aching teeth and a sore jaw. As well as pain and soreness, grinding and clenching can also wear your teeth and enamel, which leads to sensitive teeth.
By becoming more aware of your nightly habits, you’ll be able to consciously stop grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw. If this is a habit that you can’t control when sleeping, try wearing a mouth guard at night to protect your teeth.
The bottom line
You can work towards managing pain caused by teeth sensitivity and preventing the symptoms from getting worse. When it comes to soothing sensitivity, gum care is important too.
Plaque build-up, if left untreated, will lead to inflammation of the gums. Chronic inflammation loosens the gums, causing them to pull away from the teeth and expose sensitive areas like the dentin. A good oral care routine consisting of brushing regularly and using LISTERINE TOTAL CARE SENSITIVE MOUTHWASH® that contains essential oils helps prevent plaque build up and gum problems, keeping your gums firm and healthy.
In serious cases, gum or tooth surgery may be required. If you need further information about tooth sensitivity, seek professional advice from your dentist.
