Many of us know that horrible jolt of pain that comes with sensitive teeth. In fact, a recent survey completed in dental offices across the U.S. found that 1 in 8 people struggles with over-sensitive teeth. So while there is nothing worse than flinching from pain when eating ice cream, brushing too vigorously or having a warm beverage, you are not alone. Teeth become sensitive when nerves are exposed due to wear on your tooth enamel. Here are five tips that we recommend to find relief from tooth sensitivity.
- Go easy on the whitestrips
While we all want pearly whites that make our smile sparkle, using too many teeth whitening products can increase your tooth sensitivity. There are chemicals in bleaching products that can, unfortunately, be harmful to the enamel you need to keep nerves from being exposed. We recommend taking a break from whitening products to keep your teeth stronger than your sensitivity.
- Get a good toothpaste
With tooth sensitivity being so common, there are many toothpastes designed to bring you relief. Look for a toothpaste that is specifically made to reduce sensitivity. These toothpastes usually include potassium and fluoride to help fight discomfort. Call your Krengel Dentist at 952-888-1311 for recommendations on which toothpaste will best suite your smile and lessen sensitivity.
- Ease up on the tooth grinding
When feeling stressed, it?s a common bad habit to grind at our teeth. Unfortunately, one side effect of this bad habit can be sensitivity. Teeth grinding can wear down the enamel on the surfaces of your teeth, making it more difficult to handle the hot, cold and acidic foods passing through your mouth. Having trouble kicking the bad habit? Call us and your Krengel Dentist may recommend a mouth guard that prevents from teeth clenching.
- Brush gently
Brushing is a habit to keep up, but brushing too hard can ultimately do more harm than help for your teeth– especially when experiencing sensitivity. Aggressive brushing can wear down your tooth?s protective layers, so make sure to brush gently and slowly. For even better results, make sure to have a soft-bristle toothbrush that can also help to fight sensitivity.
- Go on a low-acid diet
Too many acidic foods, such as citrus, tomatoes, chocolate, etc., can eat away at enamel and leave the dentin on your teeth exposed. Lessening the acidity in your diet can go a long way to reduce the pain you experience. Make sure to eat acidic foods with foods that are low in acidity, such as nuts, broccoli, cheese, etc. The balance will help keep the acidic foods from having as adverse of an effect.
Being super sensitive can really be a doozie and these tips can be the first step to finding relief. There are many ways we can help keep you from experiencing pain, so give us a call so that you and your Krengel Dental team can work together to keep you smiling, pain-free!
