We help to prevent sensitive teeth in our local dental office. Many of our patients complain of sensitive teeth, and we work with them to take precautionary steps to ensure that they do not experience tooth pain, which is common as people age. Teeth can become sensitive due to a cavity, gum disease or other infection along with the enamel wearing away. This process is called demineralization and can happen due to the food that you eat, how hard you brush your teeth, and age.
There are steps you can take to keep your teeth healthy and strong. Some of which are so easy that you can do them at home.
- Stop smoking. People that smoke and use chewing tobacco put themselves at risk for oral cancer, and their gums and teeth can naturally become more sensitive. If you can kick the habit – do so. Your teeth and gums will start to feel better, and you may be saving yourself from a future medical problem.
- Don’t drink excessively. When people drink excessive amounts of alcohol, it becomes difficult for the body to heal itself. If you have an infection in your mouth, drinking too much can make the infection spread or last longer than it needs to. We can remove bacteria and infections in our dental office, but it is better to avoid them in the first place by allowing your body to stay healthy.
- Change your diet. Improving your diet is a good way to strengthen your teeth. Stop eating and drinking sugary items and instead, focus on healthy foods like nuts, dairy products, green leafy veggies, and crunchy fruits and veggies. You should also drink milk and water instead of soda. The more acidic or sugary the food is, the more likely it will be to irritate or your teeth or lead to an oral infection.
- Use fluoride. Your teeth are covered with enamel, a hard mineral. If the enamel starts to wear away, you can strengthen your teeth using fluoride toothpaste. This mineral will be deposited onto your teeth every time that you brush and if you need your teeth to be strengthened even further, we can do so with an in-office fluoride treatment.
- Buy a soft toothbrush. If you are using a hard toothbrush, there is a good chance that you are causing the enamel on your teeth to wear away. Switch this out for a soft toothbrush and apply gentle pressure when brushing. You can also use a battery operated toothbrush for a good clean.
In our dental office, we can also seal your teeth to cover the dentin and ensure that the nerve endings inside of it are not exposed. If you need further protection, we can perform a bonding procedure where a tooth colored substance is placed on top of your teeth. Those that are damaged or cracked should have a dental crown placed around it to ensure that nothing can touch the damaged tooth and that the tooth is restored at the same time.
These precautionary measures will help to prevent sensitive teeth, and if they develop, we can provide the necessary treatments for helping your teeth to feel better.
