Struggling with sensitive teeth? Your treatment options can vary depending on the exact cause. Some patients come to us and say, "Please be extra careful. I was born with sensitive teeth." Of course, our dentists work to be as gentle and accommodating as possible, whether we're treating cavities and gum disease or whitening a smile professionally. However, sometimes teeth sensitivity isn't a matter of genetics. A sharp sting and ache in your teeth when having hot and cold foods or sweets can be a sign of health problems for your smile. What Causes Tooth Sensitivity? Teeth sensitivity often comes from enamel being worn down faster than it should. With thinner barriers protecting the soft, inner dentin from oral bacteria and the outside world, it’s not uncommon to feel your teeth throb when exposed to heat, cold, and sweets. Acidic foods and drinks Cavities Receding gums Bruxism Other problems Acidic Foods and Drinks Foods and beverages, including citric fruits, juices, and coffee, are tasty. Still, the acids in them can also start wearing down your enamel over time. The longer they spend on your teeth, the quicker they can thin the shield protecting your dentin from the elements. Many patients try to minimize the amount of harm their morning cup of joe or glass of orange juice causes by immediately brushing their teeth after. However, this can only further speed along the process as a toothbrush's bristles can further damage the enamel for up to 30 minutes afterward. Cavities Dental cavities appear when dental decay breaks through a tooth’s enamel surface, giving it access to the soft inner tissues below, including the dentin. What does a decayed tooth look like? There are other common tooth cavity symptoms besides sensitivity: Visible pits in the tooth’s surface White spots on the tooth that may darken over time Lasting toothache Pain when biting down or chewing Persistent bad breath What will happen if a cavity is left untreated? Tooth decay won’t stop at the dentin; it will continue to burrow its way to the central dental pulp and infect the rest of your tooth down to the roots. The pulp contains the nerves and blood vessels, meaning your teeth won’t just be sensitive; they’ll develop a painful toothache too. If enough of the pulp is destroyed, the tooth may die with no way to revive it. At this point, your dentist will need to pull it.

Receding Gums When plaque and oral bacteria infect your gums, periodontal disease can cause these soft tissues to pull away from the teeth and recede. The infection can also start destroying the gums. With enough time and damaged tissues, the tooth’s roots can become exposed to the elements, leading to sensitivity. However, gum disease isn’t limited to just receding gums and sensitivity. There are several other painful and worrying symptoms: Bleeding gums Bright red and puffy gums Pain when biting down or chewing Bad breath and taste in your mouth Loose and shifting teeth Changing bite Pus between teeth In the later gum disease stages where gum recession appears, things can quickly get out of control. What happens if periodontal disease goes untreated? Gum disease can start destroying the connective ligaments and bone supporting your teeth, too. As this foundation disappears, your teeth can lose their mooring until they eventually fall out. Bruxism If you frequently grind your teeth and clench your jaws, your teeth sensitivity might be caused by bruxism. Bruxism puts a lot of uneven weight and wear and tear on your teeth, causing the enamel to thin quickly. However, you don't just have to worry about your teeth stinging a bit. When the enamel is thinner, it's weaker, too. Your teeth grinding and clenching can eventually push this hard surface past its breaking point, leading to cracks and chips. Other Possible Causes There are several other reasons that your tooth's enamel can thin and expose the dentin. One of the most seemingly innocent causes is your dental hygiene routine. If you use a hard-bristle toothbrush and are too aggressive in your brushing, you can gradually wear the enamel. Additionally, mild tooth sensitivity after a filling or other dental work, like crowns and root canals, is also common. When removing deep decay, the tooth's nerve can become aggravated or inflamed. However, this sensitivity is usually temporary and only lasts up to two weeks while the nerve heals. You may find you have a tooth sensitive to cold and hot for a few days after you've recently had your teeth whitened by one of our dentists. The hydrogen peroxide used is potent, and your teeth must absorb it to remove more than a decade of stains trapped deep in the enamel. This can reach the dentin, especially when patients choose to use over-the-counter products. It's not uncommon for people to leave their whitening strips on for longer or more frequently than recommended in the hopes of achieving a brighter smile. Luckily, the effects aren't permanent. Treating Sensitive Teeth Since dentin hypersensitivity is widespread, several different products have been made to reduce any toothaches and pains. Desensitizing toothpastes are one such option. After a few applications, they can stop the signals a tooth's nerves sends to your brain about any pain or discomfort. Other common home remedies for reducing sensitivity include saltwater and hydrogen peroxide rinses, turmeric, green tea, and vanilla extract. However, more severe problems like cavities, gum disease, and bruxism require more professional treatment. Mouth Guard For teeth grinding and clenching, you might not have any cracks or chips in your smile, but you’ll still need protection to prevent any from appearing in the future. A nighttime mouth guard won’t repair the damage already done to your smile. However, it can provide a level of padding that prevents you from putting too much pressure and strain on your already weakened and worn-down teeth.

Fluoride Fluoride is often used as a smile strengthener and early-stage tooth decay treatment. This natural mineral can remineralize a tooth's enamel to bolster teeth's defenses. While it's not potent enough to reverse a cavity, it can help with sensitive, worn-down teeth. Fluoride is often added to community tap water, toothpastes, mouthwashes. A dentist can also apply it to your teeth directly as a varnish. However, if your child has sensitive teeth, be careful with how much fluoride you give them. Family dentists only recommend giving them to kids in small amounts. Small children should only use fluoride toothpaste and not mouth rinses. Kids under the age of 2 should only be given a smear on their toothbrushes. Between 3 and 6 years old, you can increase the amount of fluoride toothpaste to a pea-sized amount. Once a child turns 6, you can also start adding fluoride mouthwashes into their routine. Dental Fillings Cavities are most often fixed with a dental filling. The decayed tissue is removed, your tooth is disinfected, and the hole is filled with composite resin. Composite is designed to match the exact shade of a patient’s tooth. Once they’re hardened with a curing light, they can last up to a decade with good care. Is it necessary to fill cavities in baby teeth? Even though a child's primary teeth will eventually fall out on their own and be replaced, you shouldn't wait to treat your child's cavity. Unless the tooth is close to coming out, leaving dental decay alone will only give it more time to work its way through the tooth. Eventually, it can worsen to the point of not needing cavity treatment but dental extraction instead. Dental Crowns For more extensive damage, a standard filling isn't enough. You'll need something tougher to take on the full weight and force of your bite: dental crowns. Many dental crowns are made of porcelain since your restoration will be both durable and natural-looking. However, for back teeth that can't be seen easily, metal crowns are another option. What they don't have in looks, they make up for with even greater longevity. Metal can withstand the greater chewing pressure back molars put in your bite. Root Canal When a tooth’s damage reaches past the dentin and into the central dental pulp, a simple filling or crown isn’t enough. Your dentist has no other option but to remove the diseased or injured tissue with a root canal. Root canals can precisely scrape away any damaged dentin and pulp, often including clearing out an entire tooth root canal or two. After the tooth is hollowed, it is disinfected, filled with gutta-percha, and reinforced with either a filling or crown. Gum Graft Gum recession doesn't disappear on its own, unfortunately. When patients don't have enough gum tissue, new material is taken from the mouth's roof and transplanted where insufficient. This new tissue can integrate with the natural gums and better secure your smile. Need to see a Long Beach dentist about your tooth sensitivity? Call us at (562) 999-3602 to book an appointment today.