A hot cup of coffee, a cool scoop of ice cream and tall glass of lemonade. For most of us, these are treats to be enjoyed. For others, however, they are the cause of sharp pain that shoots through one or more teeth. If you have tooth sensitivity, then you know what we’re talking about. Fortunately, there are things you can do to reduce tooth sensitivity.
First, let’s take a look at why teeth become sensitive. The reason for sensitivity and pain is exposed dentin, the layer of tooth that lies just below the hard outer layer of dentin. Enamel can become thin, especially at the point where your tooth meets the gum, or the neck of a tooth. Dentin is much softer than the hard enamel surface of your tooth, and it contains thousands of small tunnels called tubules that link to the nerves inside your tooth. If dentin is exposed, then these nerves can be stimulated and cause pain.
Other factors that can lead to tooth sensitivity include:
- Gum disease
- Gum recession
- Acid erosion
- Tooth grinding
- Teeth whitening
- Wear and tear from tooth brushing
- A cracked tooth or broken filling
Treating Sensitive Teeth at our Leesburg Dental Office
Depending on the cause of your tooth sensitivity, there are a number of things we can do to help alleviate the discomfort. For example, we can apply a special fluoride treatment to your teeth that will help strengthen and rebuild tooth enamel. If this doesn’t work, then we can place bonding material—the same that we use for tooth-colored fillings and to rebuild a chipped or misshaped tooth—around the neck of the tooth or wherever the enamel has worn thin. This covers the exposed dentin. If teeth grinding is causing your tooth sensitivity, then Dr. Groy can prescribe a mouthguard to wear while you sleep.
In addition, you can start using one of the many toothpastes for sensitive teeth that are sold over-the-counter. And be sure you are using a soft toothbrush with rounded bristles.
Call Our Office Today
If you’ve noticed that one or more of your teeth are sensitive when eat something hot, cold, sweet or sour, then call the Leesburg dental office of Dr. Groy. Our state-of-the-art dental practice welcomes patients from Leesburg, VA, and the surrounding areas, including Middleburg, Lovettsville, Hamilton, Ashburn, Purcellville, and beyond.