Sensitive Teeth

Teeth are made up of an outer layer called enamel and an inner layer called dentine. The hard outer enamel protects the dentine which is softer and more sensitive to external stimuli such as hot and cold, and is more prone to wear.

The following dental issues can cause sensitive teeth:

• Worn tooth enamel from using a hard toothbrush and using excessive force while brushing aggressively.
• Tooth erosion due to highly acidic foods and beverages.
• Tooth decay, worn leaky fillings and broken teeth.
• Gum recession that leaves your root surface exposed.
• Grinding your teeth at night.
• Post dental treatment sensitivity – common, but temporary, especially with procedures such as root canal treatments where the canals which houses the nerves have been worked on, crowns, deep fillings and tooth bleaching.

The cause of sensitive teeth needs to be determined first. Treatment could be as simple as using a desensitising toothpaste (such as Sensodyne), or it may involve protection of an exposed dentine or nerve ending using fillings or crowns. However, if your discomfort comes from exposed root surfaces through gum recession, we can offer other ways to protect the root surface and support your tooth. Call us to have your teeth checked out.

If the underlying problem isn’t clearly identified and addressed, it is highly likely sensitivity will progressively get worse. Additionally, depending on the source of your sensitivity, irreversible tooth damage may be caused resulting in eventual tooth loss.
Contact us to have your questions answered.