Your teeth are very important for many things, so it’s important to make sure you’re taking care of your dental health. If you’ve ever had sensitive teeth and don’t know why, it’s their way of telling you that they need a little extra TLC.
Why do we get sensitive teeth?
The reason why our teeth get sensitive is because the hard, enamel coating that surrounds our teeth has a gap somewhere. This allows our food, drink and even the wind to reach the next layer in our teeth - the dentin. Your dentin is made up of many tubes which lead all the way to our tooth’s pulp. For those who do not know, the pulp in our teeth have all the nerves. When cold water has access to our dentin, that layer of our teeth moves in a way that affects our pulp, causing the pain we feel of oversensitivity.
How does our dentin get exposed?
There are a few different ways your dentin can be exposed to the outside. One way is simple mistreatment of your teeth. This includes brushing too hard, using a hard-bristle toothbrush or maybe even grinding your teeth. If you find that you have sensitive teeth, be aware if you clench your jaw during the day. Some people may also grind their teeth in their sleep. Receding gums is another way we can become over-sensitive. Because of how our enamel works, it does not persist beyond our gums so when they start to recede we get problems. Cavities will also expose the dentin in our teeth. Of course, be careful of what you eat and make sure to brush your teeth twice every day and monitor your dental health.
Further prevention
If you already have sensitive teeth, good ways of keeping it from worsening is to avoid acidic foods. Things like tomato, lemon, and even sugars. Of course, making sure your dental health is on track will help all kinds of problems. Be sure to see a dentist about your problem and know how to avoid it next time.
