Stop Tooth Sensitivity from Becoming a Perpetual Pain

Don’t settle for suffering with sensitive teeth. Discover what’s causing your case and sink your teeth into real relief.

Facing the Facts of Tooth Sensitivity

Have you experienced a stinging or piercing pain in your teeth when they touch something cold, hot, sweet, or sour? Or maybe your teeth start to tingle when you breathe in cold air? These are all signals of sensitive teeth. The problem appears when your tooth enamel erodes or your gum tissue recedes, exposing the lower layer called dentin. This dentin is close to the nerves and roots of the teeth, so when it encounters extreme temperatures, they reach the nerves and produce a pain.

What Causes Sensitive Teeth?

Tooth sensitivity can suddenly strike anyone for any number of reasons. But to get to the root of your problem, you should see an affordable dentist to spot the source of your struggle. Yet most cases of sensitive teeth result from one or more of the following causes:

• Tooth enamel erosion from harsh brushing
• Using a hard-bristled toothbrush
• Cracked, chipped, or broken teeth Tooth decay
• Gum disease
• A plaque buildup at the tooth’s roots
• Grinding teeth, which wears down enamel and exposes the sensitive dentin of the tooth
• Long-term use of abrasive toothpastes and mouth rinses
• Using teeth whitening products
• Tooth sensitivity is most common in adults between the ages of 25 and 30
• Dental procedures, such as cleanings or restorations, can cause temporarily sensitive teeth

Steps to Subdue the Pain of Sensitive Teeth

There are ways to alleviate your pain. An affordable dentist can introduce you to the most useful and cost-effective treatments to diminish your ache. After your dental examination, your dentist can offer the remedies to relieve your sensitive teeth. Some advanced cases may require an in-office treatment, but most people can get relief with these simple at-home steps:

• Brush and floss very gently, yet thoroughly, to clean your entire mouth.
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid further tooth enamel erosion and gum recession.
• Limit your intake of highly acidic foods and beverages, which can eat away at enamel.
• Select special, de-sensitizing toothpaste.
• Seek treatment for tooth grinding, which can wear away tooth enamel.
• Get regular, professional check-ups and cleanings to prevent this pain in the future.

To learn about our family dentistry practice in Detroit, call Gentle Dental of Michigan today at or make an appointment.