If your teeth are sensitive, it is a painful experience to drink a cup of hot tea or an ice cream. Sensitive teeth are a common problem faced by many individuals of all ages. It makes life miserable as you cannot enjoy your favorite food, especially if it is hot or cold or sweet.
Let us know what causes your teeth to be so sensitive.
The outer covering of the teeth is made up of enamel, it is the hardest substance found in the body. Dentine is the layer beneath the enamel. It is the dentine which gives color to your teeth. The rich supply of nerves makes dentine very sensitive. When dentine is exposed, the tooth becomes sensitive to cold and hot food. This happens where the gums and the tooth meet together. The enamel in this area is thin and it is prone to erosion which causes pain when anything extreme in temperature touches the area.
Factors Responsible for Sensitive Teeth
- Your teeth can become sensitive after a trauma.A cracked tooth can give you severe pain while you eat food having extreme temperature.
- Bruises to the teeth caused while you brush your teeth. This happens when you brush too hard, and from side to side, instead of brushing in circulatory motion. Due to hard brushing the dentine is exposed especially at the junction where the tooth and the gums meet.
- When the tooth enamel is lost and gets eroded due to acids present in the food and drink. It exposes the dentine which is very sensitive. So when you drink any acidic beverage, use a straw as it is easy for you to gulp the fluid, without making a contact with the enamel.
- Grinding tooth too hard can destruct the enamel and increase the risk of sensitive teeth.
- In many individuals, the gums recede on their own, exposing the roots of the teeth. The roots are not covered with the protective layer of enamel, making them sensitive.
- Built up tartar and plaques will also make your teeth sensitive.
Home Remedies for Sensitive Teeth
Since ancient times, teeth problems were solved with effective home remedies. As sensitive teeth are a painful condition, home remedies will ease the pain to a great extent and facilitate the person to eat his favorite food.
- To start with use toothpaste having a desensitizing effect. This toothpaste helps to fill the dentine tubules and reduces the sensitivity.
- Use toothbrush which has soft bristles. Do not brush too hard. Change your brush after a fixed period a month or two months.
- Brush your teeth twice in a day after meals. Wash your mouth with plain water, after snacking so that no food particle entangles in between the teeth. This will prevent the buildup of bacteria and tartar.
- Massage your gums with your finger at least thrice in a weak. It helps to increase the blood circulation.
- Do not eat too hot or too cold drinks as they tend to damage the tooth enamel and dentine.
- Rinse your mouth after meals and regularly consult your dentist.
- Regular flossing is what you can do for sensitive teeth, if you want to stay away from pain and discomfort.
- Massage your gums with finely powdered salt. Salt is known to act on the bacteria in the gums and teeth.
- Use of clove oil and cinnamon oil is also valuable home remedy for sensitive teeth especially after you eat or drink too cold or hot.