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Treat Super-Sensitive Teeth With Sensitive Toothpaste

Sensitivity in the teeth can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. Exposure to pressure or hot and cold temperatures creates severe discomfort, making it hard for you to enjoy your favorite foods. Some people have teeth so sensitive that even a rush of air can trigger pain. Fortunately, using sensitive toothpaste can help reduce your discomfort.

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?

Sensitivity occurs when the enamel is damaged, thinned, or eroded, leaving the underlying dentin exposed. While enamel is hard and durable, dentin is more vulnerable. It is a porous material, covered with tiny, fluid-filled tubules that transmit sensory information back to the tooth’s pulp, a nerve-rich area within the tooth.

Without the usual protection of the enamel, the dentin is exposed to hot and cold liquids, air, extremely sweet foods, and other stimuli. This increased exposure leads to more signals passing into the tooth pulp, creating a higher level of sensitivity.

Lists some of the main causes of tooth sensitivity:

  • Tooth decay.
  • Enamel damage or erosion.
  • Gum recession due to gum disease.
  • Exposure of the root surface.

Enamel can suffer damage due to decay or trauma, but gradual erosion is more common. If your enamel is naturally thin, you’re more likely to see it erode over time. Even normal enamel, however, can be worn down due to a stiff toothbrush, abrasive toothpaste, or an abundance of acidic foods such as citrus fruits and sour candies. When enamel erodes far enough to expose the dentin, sensitivity sets in.

The recession of gums is due to infection that can leave the roots of your teeth exposed. The roots are meant to be protected by the gums and other connective tissue. When they are exposed, direct contact with food, drink, and even cold air can cause intense discomfort.

How Sensitive Toothpaste Works

Sensitive toothpaste helps to reduce sensitivity. You may notice a difference after only a few days of use, but most people start to see significant improvement after at least a week or two.

Toothpaste specially designed for sensitive teeth has special ingredients that reduce the sensitivity of your teeth. These work by blocking the tubules in the dentin. A study published in the Journal of Dental Sciences shows the use of toothpaste for sensitive teeth to be a highly effective treatment. Brush regularly with this type of toothpaste, but also rub the paste directly onto the sensitive areas for even better and faster results.

Treating Severe Sensitivity

Sometimes, at-home treatment with sensitive toothpaste isn’t enough. If you have severe sensitivity, professional treatment might be necessary, according to the Mayo Clinic. Your dentist might start by applying a fluoride varnish directly to the sensitive areas to strengthen the enamel. Depending upon the condition of your gums and the severity of any gum disease you might have, your dentist might recommend more thorough cleanings of the teeth and gum tissue.

If you and your dentist have been unable to eliminate your tooth discomfort, your dentist might refer you to an endodontist, who will determine whether you have serious problems with the pulp or the nerve of the tooth. Damage, infection, or extensive decay can all affect the pulp, leading to extreme sensitivity and persistent pain. Removing this damaged or infected tissue through a root canal procedure eliminates pain and allows you to keep your tooth. The endodontist can evaluate your condition to see if this might be necessary.