Sensitive teeth include teeth that hurt when hot and cold foods or drinks are introduced into
the oral cavity. In addition, sensitive teeth may also hurt when you eat really sweet foods,
breathe cold air, or even brush your teeth.
Living with sensitive teeth can be inconvenient at best and painful at worst. Can you expect
teeth sensitivity to go away over time, or do you need treatment now? Here’s how you can
protect your sensitive teeth from painful temperatures!
When You Can Expect Teeth Sensitivity to Go Away
The only time you can expect teeth sensitivity to go away on its own is if you’ve just had a
dental procedure done. These procedures may include the placing of veneers, root canal
therapy, an extraction, or a dental crown. Some teeth whitening procedures may also cause
mild sensitivity for a brief period of time after the procedure.
Your dentist can advise you after your procedure about when your teeth sensitivity will go away
and what you should expect. If you have sensitive teeth due to another issue, your sensitivity
will likely not be temporary and will instead be something you need to treat in order to have a
pain-free smile again.
When Teeth Sensitivity Is Here to Stay
If you have sensitive teeth due to worn-away tooth enamel, it’s likely your sensitivity is going to
be a permanent issue you’ll need to treat.
What causes tooth enamel to be worn away? There are numerous culprits: brushing your teeth
too often or aggressive brushing, broken or chipped teeth that haven’t been treated, gum
disease, teeth grinding, whitening products, or acidic foods (think sugar).
Although teeth sensitivity caused by these things likely won’t go away by itself, you can still
prevent further teeth sensitivity and treat your current teeth sensitivity with a professional
dentist.
How Is Teeth Sensitivity Treated?
First, you can focus on preventing further teeth sensitivity by not brushing too hard, avoiding
acidic foods, and getting regular dental checkups. In addition, a professional dentist can tell
whether or not you’re grinding your teeth, which may be a cause of your current teeth
sensitivity.
Your dentist can also advise you on how to treat your sensitive teeth—both at the dentist office
and at home. At the dentist, a fluoride treatment may help. At home, you can and should invest
in a soft-bristled toothbrush and gently brush your teeth to avoid wearing away any more
enamel. A toothpaste with fluoride may also help your teeth be less sensitive. If you’re a teeth
grinder, a custom mouthguard can protect your smile at night. Your dentist can make
recommendations on what would be the most appropriate for your unique smile.
Regardless of what’s causing your teeth sensitivity, you don’t have to live in pain any longer.
Schedule an appointment with your dentist to learn the likely cause behind your teeth
sensitivity as well as what you can do about it. You can live with a healthy, pain-free smile for
life!
