Ohhh… ah… can you feel the pain with the model of the advertisement when he talks about eating ice cream with sensitive teeth? Although it may be just an advertisement of toothpaste, it can be talking about your life story. Sensitive teeth are a very common problem today and even though the pain is very high in most cases, people tend to ignore it and keep on living a painful life, literally. Actually sensitive teeth is a rather soft name for the electrifying stinging sensation you get after eating anything too cold or hot. Eating cold or hot foods, beverages, sweet, or anything acidic like a soda pop, may trigger the pain, which in medical terms is called “dentin hypersensitivity”. Although no two people experience the same kind of pain, it is generally experienced just after the food is taken and usually lasts for only little time and can come back if prompted again. Although the exact cause can be only understood by dentists, it generally happens when the roots of the teeth gets exposed due to many reasons. There are some things, which you can do to take care of your teeth. Read on to know the tips for caring for sensitive teeth.
Tips For Caring For Sensitive Teeth
- First thing first, you need to take care of your teeth right from the beginning. Visit your dentists regularly, brush at least two times a day, and floss every night. Keep your teeth clean and free from plaque.
- Brushing properly is very important to keep your teeth safe. Brushing too forcefully may make the teeth more sensitive. Take a soft bristled toothbrush and hold it at 45-degree angle against your gum line and with short strokes, brush gently the meeting place of tooth and gum.
- Use desensitized toothpastes especially made for sensitive teeth. Look for toothpastes, which have potassium nitrate in it as it helps in reducing the sensitivity and pain related to sensitive teeth. Sensodyne, colgate sensitive etc are good options for you.
- Mouthwashes, which contain fluoride, are also a good option for sensitive teeth. Consult your dentist about the best mouthwash for you. You can also use a fluoride rinse as it is available in stores and you wouldn’t even need to consult a dentist for it. Use it once a day, swish it around your mouth, and spit it out.
- If you use tobacco or smoke then naturally you teeth will get sensitive. Stop smoking and chewing tobacco. If you are used to the habit of sucking hard candy all the time, it may be one reason why you are getting sensitive teeth.
- Holding the jaws tightly and consistent tooth grinding may also lead to this condition. So avoid it as much as possible.
- Avoid taking too hot and too cold food. You also need to avoid foods, which have sugar in it or are too acidic. Your sensitivity will go with time and you may be able to binge on these things then without your teeth getting sensitive.
- Increase your calcium supplements after consulting with your doctor. If the sensitivity is only in few teeth, he/she may be able to seal the area with a bonding agent. Ask your doctor about fluoride gels.
- Eat calcium rich foods like milk, yogurt, and cheese. Also, eat fiber rich raw foods and drink plenty of water. Take fruits like apples, orange, beetroot; radish, cucumber etc. Cashews, walnuts, almonds etc are also good for teeth.