Dentin hypersensitivity, aka sensitive teeth, affects over 40 million Americans. It is caused when thinning enamel exposes the more sensitive, middle layer of the tooth called dentin. Nerves and cells inside the tooth become irritated when they come in contact with anything cold, sweets, sour, and even air.

As mentioned above, dentin hypersensitivity is caused by the thinning of the tooth enamel. Enamel is very hard compared to dentin, but it is also very thin, and it can be worn down by many things.

· Aging
· Brushing too hard close to the gums.
· Tooth grinding
· Tooth decay
· Gum disease
· Digestive acids

Any one or any combination, of these factors will eventually result in exposed dentin and hypersensitivity to any type of unusual stimulus. If you have been recently feeling discomfort or even pain when you brush your teeth, you need to contact our office immediately and schedule an appointment. You also need to make an appointment if you feel any consistent discomfort or pain while eating or drinking.

Neglecting to have your teeth professionally cleaned can also contribute to decay, gum disease, and plaque buildup. If it has been several years since you had your teeth cleaned, and you are feeling a nagging discomfort when you eat or drink, call our office and ask to have a full dental exam performed.

As severe as all this may sound, dentin hypersensitivity is actually very easy for a trained dental professional to treat. There are a number of treatments we can prescribe based on patient case history and severity of the condition.

Milder cases can normally be resolved with desensitizing toothpastes. These toothpastes contain chemicals that block pain signals in tooth nerves. They take a few days to start working, but after that, relief is typically consistent.

Tooth enamel that has been substantially worn away may require fluoride treatments. Fluoride will remineralize the damaged enamel by binding to tooth surfaces and strengthens it. We can apply the fluoride in our office, or we can send it home with you for self-treatment.

Dental sealants and cosmetic dental bonding resin are sometimes used to treat dentin hypersensitivity. These substances coat the tooth surface and prevent irritants from affecting more delicate tooth layers beneath the surface.

In light of how simple and inexpensive such treatments are, does it not make sense to go see a dentist now if you have noticed any discomfort or pain while eating or drinking? If you ignore the condition it will only get worse, and it will possibly cause tooth decay and periodontal disease.

Avoid needless suffering and higher, future costs by scheduling an appointment today.