If you have a coffee or an ice cream causes discomfort in your mouth, it’s probably because you have sensitive teeth. It is a common ailment, caused by the erosion of enamel or gum recession, but not without remedy.

sensitive teeth

sensitive teeth

Tooth sensitivity may present with discomfort in the brushing, eating hot or cold, or even with the contact on the tooth and with air. The first step is to go to a dentist, you must make sure that there are other problems that may be causing the sensitivity, such as a cavity or a crack in a tooth, for example.

Teeth become sensitive when the dentin (the layer of the tooth which is covered by enamel) is in the air. The dentin has small endings, called microscopic tubules, ranging from the dentin to the nerve of the tooth, and when exposed, causing pain.

The dentin is exposed by the recession of the gums or brushing too vigorously. This causes the area of the gum line can become hypersensitive.

Treatments:
It is a problem that is solved quite easily in most cases. The most common treatment is the use of desensitizing toothpastes. These toothpastes have compounds (such as chloride or potassium nitrate estronio) that help block transmission of sensation from the dentin to the nerve.

Another type of treatment, this time performed by a dentist in consultation, is to apply fluoride in sensitive areas, and that binds to and strengthens tooth enamel, remineralising the surface of the tooth affected. Oxalate and chloride estronio can be applied in the same way.

Also sensitive areas can be sealed with a plastic or a resin to restore the tooth color. For the case of gum recession, the doctor may use a product that looks like a plastic coating that seals the tooth perfectly the root zone.

Care:
To prevent the occurrence of tooth sensitivity or relieve the symptoms of milder cases, follow these tips:

  • Use a special toothpaste for sensitive teeth.
  • Avoid using whitening toothpastes or to remove the plaque, may increase the sensitivity to temperature.
  • Brush your teeth with a soft bristle brush. The movements should be short from back to front, and back and top to bottom.
  • Use dental floss and mouthwash every day.
  • If symptoms persist, see a dentist.
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