Sensitive teeth

Sensitive teeth cause tooth pain – causes, treatment and prophylaxis

Anyone who suffers from teeth that are sensitive to pain will feel this especially while eating and drinking. An inexperienced bite into a treat and a pulling or stinging pain chases through the tooth. Enamel defects and exposed tooth necks due to gum retraction clear the way for painful conduction. Read practical tips for everyday life and learn how your dentist can help you with the problem sensitive teeth can.

Table of Contents

That is what sensitive teeth mean

The phenomenon "sensitive teeth" is an issue in every dental practice. 40 percent of the population regularly suffer from tooth pain sensitivity. Dentists speak of hypersensitivity, the so-called dentine hypersensitivity. This sensitivity to pain to normal stimuli such as hot, cold, sweet, sour or salty is caused by damage to the tooth enamel and by exposed tooth necks.

In both cases, part of the tooth is exposed, every stimulus is immediately converted into pain. The reason is exposed tubules (dentine tubules) that run through the dentine (dentin) and are traversed by nerves and vessels. Normally, the dentinal tubules are covered in the upper area by tooth enamel and in the lower area by gums. If the enamel and gum shields are damaged, the nerve endings in the tubules are no longer protected against external stimuli. Sensitive teeth with a high sensitivity to pain are the result.

Read more here about teeth sensitive to pain:

How to avoid exposed tooth necks

What are the causes of sensitive teeth?

Teeth that are sensitive to pain can occur if the gums retreat due to gum retraction or the tooth enamel wears out due to tooth enamel degradation. The most common causes of exposed tooth necks are incorrect brushing techniques and careless handling of acidic foods.

A hard toothbrush and the wrong toothbrushing technique, toothpaste with abrasive particles and vigorous brushing with a left-right movement scrubs away gums and tooth enamel and does not clean the teeth adequately. Cleaning after eating or drinking does more harm than good.

In addition, the consumption of acidic drinks and food is more likely to cause tooth enamel and make teeth sensitive. Untreated gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and periodontitis (inflammation of the gums) lead to regression of the gums and thus to the exposure of the sensitive tooth necks. In addition, gnashing of teeth causes defects in the enamel, which make teeth sensitive to pain. Diseases such as diabetes and celiac disease as well as dry mouth can lead to sensitive teeth.

How is the sensitivity to pain triggered??

Cold, hot and sweet are the main triggers for pain in teeth that are sensitive to pain. This is shown by a survey in which multiple answers were possible. Cold food and drinks are particularly bad for 67% of those surveyed.

51% feel pain when cold air hits their teeth. For 47% the stimulus is caused by sugary foods and in 35% of the respondents hot food and drinks trigger the pain stimulus.

But also acid, brushing your teeth or rinsing with cold water can cause pain.

What can I do about sensitive teeth??

It is not always easy to motivate yourself to maintain adequate oral hygiene despite the sensitive teeth, but it is urgently necessary. Inadequate dental care exacerbates the problem in the long run. Sufferers should switch to a sonic toothbrush or get a soft toothbrush specially for teeth that are sensitive to pain.

The same applies to toothpastes and mouthwash. Toothpastes like Sensodyne contain desensitizing agents such as potassium nitrate (soothes the nerve) and strontium acetate (promotes the formation of the mineral layer and thus minimizes the transmission of stimuli).

Gentle toothpastes, recognizable by the low RDA value, also contain no abrasive particles that could remove the tooth enamel. The right cleaning technique also prevents unpleasant moments of pain. A helpful trick for people who are sensitive to pain is to rinse them out with warm water after brushing their teeth, this irritates the teeth less. In addition, the eating habits should be questioned, because an unbalanced diet and acidic foods burden gums and promote tooth enamel degradation.

Overview of relief measures against pain sensitivity:

Use a soft toothbrush for sensitive teeth or sonic toothbrush for dental care
use individually adapted interdental brushes
gentle cleaning technique with circular movements from white (tooth) to red (gums)
Brush your teeth at least 30 minutes after eating
Use special toothpastes (e.g. Sensodyne) with desensitizing agents
Eat a balanced diet and avoid acidic foods (fruit, fruit juices, carbonated drinks, lemonades, white wine vinegar)
use over-the-counter preparations for intensive fluoridation (once a week)
Use a special mouthwash (e.g. Sensodyne) with desensitizing agents
Have a desensitizing varnish applied to the dentist every three to four months

When should the dentist be consulted for sensitive teeth??

A reaction to cold or warm stimuli is a warning signal. Permanent bad breath is also a warning sign. If you experience these symptoms, you should immediately arrange a check-up with your dentist. Because only he can determine the cause of the sensitive teeth in a thorough examination. If you wait too long, this can lead to tooth loss, especially in the case of carious disease. Because the caries often hides below the visible area of a tooth and destroys it from the inside. The result is sometimes complex measures that you can prevent with your quick reaction and treatment.

How does the Berlin dentist treat Dr. Seidel sensitive teeth?

The treatment of sensitive teeth depends on the cause. One reason can be a carious tooth that is sensitive to stimuli such as cold or heat. In this case, the treatment of caries by dentist Dr. Seidel is an adequate measure to eliminate the unpleasant reaction of the tooth.

If the sensitive teeth are healthy, the tooth necks may be exposed. In this case, the dentist seals the dentinal tubules on the tooth neck by applying a fluoride varnish. The dentist achieves the same effect by sealing with a light-curing lacquer. If this form of treatment is not sufficient due to the extent of the damage to the tooth neck, the tooth can be crowned over. Alternatively, surgical intervention is recommended to put the gums back over the tooth neck.

In the event of tooth damage caused by grinding your teeth, the sensitive tooth is sealed with fluoride or liquid plastic, as tooth enamel is rubbed off by the night grinding of the teeth or even cracks occur in the tooth enamel.

Teeth that are sensitive to pain can be a symptom of a serious illness?

Teeth that are sensitive to pain can be more than a nuisance. Comparable pain is caused, for example, by gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), caries, periodontitis, tooth root inflammation or tooth fractures.

Certain systemic diseases such as diabetes and celiac disease also lead to attacked tooth enamel, which causes sensitive teeth. So that patients can be sure that the sensitivity to pain is not a consequence of a serious illness such as gingivitis, caries or periodontitis, they should seek advice from the dentist regarding the pain-sensitive teeth.

When can teeth whitening be painful??

Due to the ingredients used in bleaching, almost every patient may experience sensitivity to pain. On the one hand, the teeth can hurt during the procedure, on the other hand, they can be sensitive for a certain time after teeth whitening.

80% of all whitening patients experience sensitive teeth at times after the treatment. Patients with exposed tooth necks and damaged tooth enamel are particularly affected. There are now toothpastes that can protect against the pain.

Before your whitening appointment, get advice from the dentist about which products should be used and how long in advance to build up protection.

Would you like to learn more about the cause and therapy of sensitive teeth?

Call us now and make an appointment for a free and non-binding consultation at:
033203/85200

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Dr. Frank Seidel

Last update of this page on November 03, 2019 by Author Dr. Frank Seidel.

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