Calgary Dentist Explains What Causes Sensitive Teeth
Sensitive teeth can be caused by a variety of factors. Whether your teeth are sensitive to hot or cold, you don’t have to live with this painful condition. Watch this video by dedicated Calgary dentist Dr. Arash Ravanbakhsh as he explains what causes sensitive teeth, and how we can help relieve your pain.
One of the most common issues that a lot of our patients have is that they come in and they ask, “What is causing my tooth sensitivity?” A lot of times there are a number of factors that lead to that sensitivity. One of the most common factors is gum recession. Basically, your tooth has a harder outer layer called the enamel, a softer inner layer called the dentin, and then the pulp in the middle.
The dentin contains nerve endings and these nerve endings sense when you have a hot or cold drink and they relay that information to your brain. When the nerve endings are exposed, because your gums are no longer covering your roots, the sensitivity can get worse. Another thing that can happen is if you have a crack in the tooth, that can also cause sensitivity because again, those nerve endings are becoming stimulated and they’re not doing well at that point.
Anything irritating the nerve – an acidic diet, which can wear away the tooth structure and cause the nerve to become irritated – that acid can come from sugary drinks; it can come from your diet, like citrus fruits; it can come from things like bulimia or GERD, so if you have a lot of reflux, that can cause issues as well. Over-brushing your teeth can also cause sensitivity. I had a patient come in that was using whitening gel on her toothbrush as toothpaste. Because of this, they basically wore away a good portion of their enamel. I always recommend using an extra soft toothbrush and you want to be very gentle when you’re brushing.
Grinding can cause sensitivity as well. Putting excessive force on teeth for long durations of time causes the nerves to become inflamed and they show that their inflamed and unhappy by causing your sensitivity. Sometimes some of the restorative work that you’ve had in your mouth, such as fillings, if those come de-bonded – the contact between the filling and the tooth separates – can cause sensitive teeth as well.
If you or a loved one is experiencing tooth sensitive teeth, Contact Inglewood Family Dental to arrange your consultation and let us help identify the root cause. We offer flexible financing options and follow the new Alberta dental fee guide to help make treatments accessible on any budget. Contact us today, we look forward to putting a smile on your face!