5 causes of tooth sensitivity

5 Causes of Tooth Sensitivity Do you encounter a sharp pain while chewing food particles, sipping a cup of tea or coffee, eating ice creams? Does the annoyance persist when the teeth come into contact with water or even air? Then you might suffer from the problematic dental condition called "Tooth Sensitivity".

In general, the dental tissues of a tooth along with the nerve endings are contained in a layer called Dentin. It is protected by a hard outer layer called "Enamel". The sensitive regions of a tooth visible that leave the dentin, tissues, nerves expose to external agents when the enamel erodes or wears down.

It is the main aspect of sensitive teeth. Dr. Senthil kumar, the chief dentist in Surya Dental Care has explained the various causes of tooth sensitivity here.

What causes tooth sensitivity?

Tooth sensitivity is the common symptom of various dental dilemmas including cavities, gum diseases and much more. On the other hand, it can also occur with several reasons like taking acidic foods, poor oral hygiene, problems with fixed dental appliances, etc. So you should not confuse this problem with any dental disease.

Here are some of the common causes of sensitive teeth other than oral infections:

1) Aggressive Brushing Everyone should brush our teeth twice a day for a healthy mouth. If you brush your teeth frequently, it will be troublesome as it damages the enamel and leads the microscopic tubules present underneath enamel to expose. Meanwhile, brushing vigorously or using a hard-bristled toothbrush also has havoc on your teeth.

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush or electric toothbrush to clean your teeth. Place the toothbrush at 45 degrees towards the teeth. This is the right tooth brushing technique to clean your teeth without any side effects like tooth sensitivity.

2) Teeth Grinding Teeth grinding - The habit of grind or clench our teeth due to stress or while sleeping without our knowledge. If a person continues this habit, it will cause cracks over the enamel and is followed by the enamel weakening. It stimulates intense tooth pain, sensitivity, and other dental discomforts.

Wearing mouthguards is the best way to protect teeth from the hazardous effect of Bruxism.

3) Tooth whitening toothpaste Everyone wants to have a stainless, shining white teeth. It induces many people to use the tooth whitening toothpaste available in the market. They are not aware of the fact that those products contain chemical compounds and certain abrasive substances as whitening agents in the toothpaste formula.

The continuous use of such whiteners causes abrasions or splinters over the enamel. This then develops to disclose the soft layers underneath the enamel and leave the user with teeth sensitivity.

If you want tooth whitening toothpaste, consult your dentist to get the right one or clinically made whitening toothpaste. It is because they do not have the abrasive agents or ingredients causing sensitive teeth.

4) Mouthwashes Similar to whitening toothpaste, certain mouthwashes contain alcohol substances and acidic particles that can erode the enamel.

Similarly, swishing mouth with such fluids make the microbes thrive inside your mouth. It encourages the oral bacteria to develop a biofilm called Plaque on teeth over the gum surfaces. Plaque build-up is also responsible for enamel wear down and teeth sensitivity.

Take a look at the ingredients present in mouthwashes while purchasing or switch to natural mouthwashes that you can prepare at home.

5) Decay around the dental fillings The dental fillings in a tooth become weak and start to leak when they get old. In such cases, the tooth causes sharp pain as a response to certain actions like biting, chewing. On the other hand, the tooth with old or damaged fillings is susceptible to develop cavities around the edges of fillings. Replacing the fillings is the only solution to fix sensitivity and avoid further dental problems.

Bottom line Remember that the sensitive teeth do not hurt you all the time. It induces sharp pain when it comes into contact with actions or agents like foods, hot & cold drinks, and others. We have explained the tooth sensitivity arises due to improper oral hygiene and damaged dental appliances. Apart from these, various dental disorders are also responsible for tooth sensitivity.