3949 Artesia Blvd, Torrance, CA 90504

Torrance Dental Care | Implant Dentistry, Emergency Treatment and Dental Bridges

Discovering Relief from Sensitive Teeth

March 25, 2024

If the delight of enjoying a scrumptious ice cream or sipping on a soothing cup of tea is dampened by tooth discomfort that makes you wince, it's time to visit our dental practice. Our skilled team will determine what's causing your pain and administer the treatment necessary to alleviate your symptoms and restore your oral health.

Taking on Sensitive Teeth

Tooth sensitivity is a common problem, with almost 40 million adults in the United States experiencing it. Most affected are people aged 20 to 50 years old. The level of discomfort can range from a mild tingle to a sharp jolt, and it might affect one tooth or several. For some individuals, the pain is so intense that it impacts their daily routines – they may avoid cold foods entirely, use a straw whenever they drink, and even keep their lips together when breathing in cold weather.

Common reasons for sensitive teeth include:

  • Exposed and sensitive dentin due to gum recession and periodontal disease
  • Wearing away of healthy tooth structure due to habits like aggressive tooth brushing or teeth grinding
  • Chemical erosion of teeth caused by a diet high in acidic foods or beverages.
  • Overuse of teeth whitening agents
  • Health conditions such as dry mouth, acid reflux, and eating disorders can also contribute to irritated dentin and tooth sensitivity.

Understanding the Problem and Providing a Solution

The first step in dealing with sensitive teeth is to have our dental professionals determine what's causing your discomfort. The quick sting you feel in a tooth could be due to various dental issues, such as cavities, cracked or broken teeth, worn-out fillings, gum recession, eroded tooth enamel, exposed tooth roots, or temporary aftereffects of a recent dental procedure.

Once we've established that you have dentin hypersensitivity, we will recommend an appropriate treatment plan. We offer various regimens to help alleviate your discomfort. These include in-office treatments and products that can be used at home.

Preventing Sensitive Teeth: Proper Oral Hygiene

Maintaining good oral hygiene is vital for preventing gum recession, which can lead to dentin hypersensitivity. Our dental team will guide you on proper brushing and flossing techniques to prevent the erosion of healthy tooth structure.

We may also recommend incorporating a specialized desensitizing toothpaste into your daily oral care routine. Desensitizing toothpaste often requires multiple applications over time for maximum effectiveness in reducing discomfort.

Advanced Treatment Options

If desensitizing toothpaste is not sufficient, alternative therapeutic options are available. These may include applying fluoride gel and other topical desensitizing agents. In severe cases, more advanced dental procedures might be necessary. Treatment can range from the placement of a filling or other dental restoration to seal sensitive dentin, to surgical gum grafts to cover exposed tooth roots, or even a root canal if dentin hypersensitivity persists despite other interventions.

Embrace Tooth Sensitivity Relief

There's no reason to let sensitive teeth hold you back. Our dental practice can help! Contact us today and take the first step towards alleviating your tooth sensitivity discomfort.