Short, sharp, shock. Yup you know the feeling? Sensitive teeth - makes you wink and wince and crinkled up your face. It’s not pleasant, and actually it’s super underestimated when it comes to discomfort levels. So, what can we do about it? Why does it happen? And should you be worried?
Why Do Teeth Become Sensitive?
Our teeth are coated in a protective barrier called enamel and this protective barrier is susceptible to certain substances such as acid and sugar. The barrier is there to protect our sensitive nerve endings that are linked deep down into our nervous system which is why when it’s worn down the teeth become more ‘sensitive’. Really it’s just that the nerves are becoming more exposed and so we’re feeling things a little bit more.
Why Causes Enamel To Break Down?
There are a couple of leading causes, one we’ve already mentioned in acid and sugar. These are found in certain foods and drinks and people with high sugar diets or high acidic diets will naturally become more susceptible to teeth sensitivity. Being smart about what you’re consuming is really important, if you’re someone who drinks lots of lemon or lime flavoured water thinking it’s healthier than fizzy drinks then you’re mistaken as the acid is just as damaging as the sugar in coca cola. Educating yourself really well on what's acidic and what’s sugar will greatly serve you in protecting this super special layer of tooth. The second leading cause is grinding. Teeth grinding is actually super common, more common than you likely realise and it’s a major issue for your teeth. The act of grinding, grinds away at the tooth and the protective layer on the teeth, again leaving the nerves exposed.
What Should You Do If Your Teeth Become Sensitive?
You should be making a trip to your dentist Fulham as soon as possible. They will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to take a good look at exactly why your teeth have suddenly become so sensitive, it could be one of the reasons mentioned and it’s likely that it is, but it could also be linked to something more serious which is why it’s important to get checked out.
What Can Be Done?
This really does come down to you and your dentist and what they believe is the root cause. In lots of cases it’s enough to invest in a sensitive toothpaste and monitor what types of foods are becoming consumed. For those who have signs of wear on the teeth, your dentist will want to get to the root cause of why you’re grinding, which will mean investigating the alignment of your teeth to see if there’s an alignment issue that needs to be corrected through orthodontic treatment. Or if you are experiencing high levels of anxiety or stress in your work or personal life which is manifesting in the grinding of your teeth. Whatever the reason there’s usually a fix to it but the main thing to take away is that if you do begin to show signs of sensitivity you shouldn’t just ignore it. You should get it checked. Just in case.
