Understanding and Treating Sensitive Teeth at Gasior Family Dental in Northville, MI
It’s not uncommon to experience tooth sensitivity from time to time, especially if you’ve been eating sugary foods. But you should call our office if you have sensitive teeth for more than a few days as this could be a sign of a more serious problem.
During your appointment, our dentists will be able to examine the inside of your mouth and take X-rays to determine what’s causing the sensitivity. From there, they’ll be able to recommend the best course of treatment to help you regain your oral health.
Here are some of the most common reasons why patients experience sensitive teeth.
Common Causes of Tooth Sensitivity
Worn Tooth Enamel
Enamel is the white outer layer of your teeth that protects the more sensitive layer of dentin beneath. Dentin consists of microscopic tubes that allow heat and cold to travel to the tooth’s nerve. This is why it’s important that you practice good oral hygiene to protect your enamel. Once you lose your enamel, it’s gone for good.
Reasons for worn enamel include:
- Bruxism: Unconsciously grinding or clenching your teeth at night wears away the enamel.
- Diet: Consuming a lot of sugary foods and drinks feeds bacteria, which produces acid that erodes enamel.
Gum Disease
If you don’t remove plaque by brushing twice a day and flossing once a day, it can build up over time and lead to gum disease. Acid attacks from plaque will affect your gums in the long run, making them recede and exposing the tooth roots. This is why patients who have gum disease also report having sensitive teeth. If you have sore, bleeding gums, please call our office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.
Tooth Decay
The bacteria in dental plaque will erode your enamel over time. If your teeth are sensitive all of a sudden, it could be because of untreated tooth decay. The longer you wait, the more likely you would need more intensive treatment. For example, our dentists can repair a small cavity with a filling, but you may need a root canal if the cavity penetrates the pulp inside your tooth.
Fractured Teeth
A fracture to the teeth may not be visible to the naked eye, but a tiny crack can still cause sensitivity. We recommend that athletes wear a mouth guard to protect their teeth, gums, and other oral structures while they play to avoid a dental emergency.
Worn Fillings
Amalgam fillings, still used by many dental offices, expand and contract slightly with temperature fluctuations, especially as they get worn. This movement can allow bacteria to enter the inside of your tooth, sometimes causing “secondary cavities” along the edges. If your filling is about 10 to 15 years old, our dentists may recommend replacing it with white composite fillings, which are not vulnerable to temperature fluctuations.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Tooth sensitivity is often a sign of a larger underlying problem with your oral health. You’ll need to schedule an emergency appointment with our office if the pain persists. Also, make sure that you continue to take care of your teeth and gums by practicing good oral hygiene at home and seeing our dentists at least every 6 months for your routine teeth cleaning and oral examination.
Request an Appointment With Us
If you have persistent tooth sensitivity, call our office as soon as possible. Our family dentists in Northville, MI, will be able to diagnose and treat the source of your pain so you can maintain a healthy smile for life. To request an appointment, call Gasior Family Dental at (248) 348-7997.