Reducing The Risk Of Developing Sensitive Teeth

What can you do to help prevent this painful problem, and how can our Epsom team help if you already suffer from it?

Having teeth that are sensitive to both hot and cold food and drinks (and sometimes the weather) can be very frustrating, quite uncomfortable or even painful at times. While some people may be more vulnerable to this due to naturally thinner enamel and perhaps consider it only as an inconvenience, it could also indicate more serious problems that should be addressed as soon as possible.

In today’s blog, the team at the Clocktower Dental, Implant & Facial Centre discuss what you can do to minimise the risks of suffering from sensitive teeth and how they can help to restore teeth that are already affected in this way.

What causes tooth sensitivity?

A number of things can lead to having sensitive teeth and these include enamel erosion, gum recession, cracks or chips in the teeth among others. All of these can worsen over time and it is important that you see one of our Epson dentists for an examination if you notice that you are experiencing discomfort from hot and cold food and drinks.

Preventing sensitive teeth

The key to avoiding tooth sensitivity is to have strong and healthy tooth enamel. The bedrock of this is a balanced diet and good oral health care. Regular brushing and the use of dental floss are the most essential things that you can do, along with having regular checkups with your dentist.

There are a number of other things that you can do to help though and these include:

‘Fine tune’ your brushing

We have already mentioned that you should brush your teeth but it is also important that you use a toothpaste containing fluoride. This helps to strengthen the enamel and helps to protect it from problems like erosion and decay. Most toothpastes do contain this but especially if you use a ‘natural’ toothpaste such as might be found in a health shop, please do check that it contains fluoride. Remember too that there is no need to ‘scrub’ your teeth hard. This can cause the enamel to wear away. If you find that you do this hoping to get rid of some staining, why not talk to us about our teeth whitening procedure?

You should also not brush straight after eating and especially after eating acidic foods. For twenty minutes to half an hour after eating or drinking (except water), the enamel on our teeth temporarily softens and is more likely to be worn quicker if you brush during this time. It is best to wait for at least twenty minutes before you brush your teeth.

Avoid acidic drinks

Anything acidic can affect your teeth and this includes fruits. This shouldn’t be a problem unless you eat them to excess or don’t clean your teeth correctly. One of the main causes of enamel erosion at the moment though is the consumption of high sugar and acidic soft drinks. This applies to most well known brands and also ‘sports’ or ‘energy’ drinks. Despite their name, these are often very high in sugar and also very acidic and damaging to teeth. Avoid these as much as you possibly can or at least moderate your intake.

Reduce sugar intake

Sugar is well known for damaging our teeth, but it also provides food for the bacteria in our mouth. A byproduct of this is that acids are formed which can damage our teeth. If you do eat sweets and chocolates etc, try to do so when you are due to brush your teeth fairly soon afterwards rather than leaving sugars adhered to your teeth for long periods of the day.

How can we help?

In addition to providing check ups and dental hygiene treatments to help keep your teeth and gums in good health, we also offer solutions for sensitive teeth. Where the problem is caused by cracked or broken teeth, a filling or a crown may be effective at preventing the sensitivity.

One of the most effective ways though, when the enamel surface from the front of the tooth has been worn away, is to replace this using porcelain dental veneers. Of course veneers are also great for a whiter smile too, lasting approximately ten years or so when you care for them as advised by our team.

If you are a sensitive tooth sufferer then, please don’t just put up with it or ignore it, but contact our Epsom clinic to have the problem investigated. You can do this by calling the Clocktower Dental, Implant & Facial Centre today on 01372 720136.