Do’s and Don’ts For Sensitive Teeth
Have you ever experienced getting that painful sensation in certain areas of your teeth after drinking a cold or hot beverage? If you do, then you have sensitive teeth.
About 45 million people in the United States have sensitive teeth, according to recent data. While it has become a common concern for most adults, having a sensitive tooth is not normal nor okay.
What is Tooth Sensitivity?
Tooth sensitivity happens when the hard-covering layer or enamel of the tooth has worn out. As it happens, the enamel is the protective layer that keeps the sensitive nerves protected from any outside factors.
When the outer layer gets worn out, these nerves get exposed. And once exposed, you will feel pain in almost everything including hot and cold drinks, sweet treats, and even air.
The cause of this is due to the enamel breakage. Many individuals accidentally break the outer layer of their teeth due to improper dental and oral health.
Aside from ignoring dental and oral health, eating hard, acid-rich, and sugar-filled consumption also affect the enamel of the teeth.
So, if you have sensitive teeth, it only means that you are doing something wrong in taking care of your teeth and mouth.
Dos For Sensitive Teeth
If you have sensitive teeth, here’s what you should do:
• Take Care of Your Tooth Enamel
If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, then you must pay attention to your teeth, particularly to the enamel. This is because the enamel is the one protecting your other teeth from exposing its nerves.
So, before the concern advances further, start taking care of it by following the proper dental and oral hygiene.
• Maintain dental hygiene
Maintaining proper dental hygiene is one of the best things you can do for your teeth, regardless of the condition. Aside from brushing your teeth properly, twice, or thrice per day, you must also start flossing at least once per day.
Dental check-ups, including teeth cleaning sessions, are also a must. And if you already know that you have tooth sensitivity, visit your dentist as soon as possible.
• Use warm water (not too hot not too cold)
Instead of drinking or utilizing cold and hot water, resort to lukewarm water, in the meantime. This will decrease the painful sensations when the problem continues to persist.
But, keep in mind that this is only a temporary fix. You should still visit your dentist to resolve this problem.
• Use a Soft Toothbrush
Tooth sensitivity can also be obtained from too much and hard dental hygiene. If you brush too hard and you use hard toothbrushes, you can easily break down your enamel.
So, instead of doing this, opt for much softer brushes. Your toothpaste must not always be harsh.
• Floss gently
Flossing is as important as brushing. But, doing it in the wrong way can also negatively impact your dental health. And worse, it may worsen your teeth sensitivity.
Re-check your flossing habits and start to be much gentler to your teeth when you use string flossers, or even water flossers.
Don’ts For Sensitive Teeth
These are things that you must not do when you have sensitive teeth:
• Don’t brush too hard
As mentioned, brushing too hard may break and tear your enamel. When this happens, it exposes your teeth’ inner nerves causing more sensitivity and problems.
So, if you are doing this – stop. Brushing hard does not mean much cleaner teeth.
• Avoid acidic, sugary foods
Cut off the sugary and acidic consumptions, especially on beverages. If you must, choose water, all the time.
Aside from benefiting your dental and oral health, this will also benefit your physical and mental health aspects.
• Extreme Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening, especially extreme practices, will certainly cause risks to your dental health. Keep in mind that when you try to whiten your teeth, you are most likely taking the outer layer and surface of the teeth away.
So, before you do any tooth whitening hacks or projects, ensure to consult first your dentist.
• Control coffee and tea intake
Coffee and tea are some of the most acidic beverages. As stated, these are some of the common drinks that cause enamel wear and tear.
Aside from making the covering layer thin, these drinks also cause discoloration. So, try to limit your caffeine consumption.
• Avoid cold beverages
In the meantime, try to avoid cold beverages. Whether it may be water or any other drinks, cut off taking these drinks.
Aside from causing more pain to your teeth, it may also damage the nerves. Hence, if your dentist has not treated you yet, resort to lukewarm drinks for now.
Final Thoughts
All in all, teeth sensitivity is one of the most common dental concerns in recent times. But, as mentioned, despite being common, having this kind of dental condition is not normal.
Also, it limits you from enjoying a lot of things. Instead, it causes more challenges and daunting circumstances in your daily living.
So, if you have this, consult your dentist as soon as possible. And if you do not have it, then great – but, make sure to keep it that way by taking care of your teeth.