TOOTH SENSITIVITY - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Tooth sensitivity is usually a sharp intermittent zinging pain in response to cold air or food or drinks that are especially hot or cold or very sweet or sour. If you’re experiencing pain that is more severe and more constant, chances are it’s a different kind of mouth pain.

As the gums pull back, dentin becomes exposed and your teeth become less protected from sensations like hot and cold. While sensitive teeth don’t necessarily look that different, sensitive gums will turn red and may bleed. Unlike sensitive teeth, sensitive gums may not hurt that much at all. But the longer you ignore them, the worse for your teeth, so see your dentist as soon as possible.

It's critical to identify the cause of your sensitivity before making treatment recommendations. Your best solution would be to consult with your dentists immediately. You can attempt a few solutions up until your appointment to relieve the discomfort in the interim.

• Use toothpaste with a numbing agent or a desensitizing toothpaste
• Rinse with salt water
• Apply products with hydrogen peroxide
• Rinse with warm water and honey
• Use turmeric
• Apply Capsaicin 
• Use Green tea
• Apply vanilla extract

Certain actions, such as eating, drinking, and brushing, might trigger sudden, momentary pain in your teeth if you have sensitive teeth. Usually, exposed tooth roots or damaged tooth enamel cause sensitive teeth. However, there are times when other problems, such as a cavity, a cracked or chipped tooth, a worn filling, or gum disease, are to blame for dental discomfort.

Consult your dentist if you suffer from sensitive teeth. To cure your teeth sensitivity, your dentist might recommend the following: 

• Toothpaste with desensitizers: Desensitizing toothpaste can occasionally assist in reducing dental pain after repeated applications. Numerous over-the-counter products are available. 
• Fluoride: To bolster tooth enamel and lessen pain, your dentist may administer fluoride to the sensitive parts of your teeth. Additionally, your dentist could advise applying prescription fluoride using a personalized tray at home.
• Bonding. On occasion, sensitive root surfaces that have been exposed might be addressed by coating them in bonding resin. Perhaps a local anesthetic is required.
• Gum graft surgery: A little piece of gum tissue from another part of your mouth can be retrieved and connected to the damaged area if your tooth root has lost gum tissue. This can lessen sensitivity and shield exposed roots.
• A root canal: Your dentist may suggest a root canal to treat issues in the soft core of the tooth if your sensitive teeth are really painful and other treatments are ineffective (dental pulp). Despite the fact that this procedure may seem extensive, it is thought to be the most effective way to cure dental sensitivity.

Fortunately, you can take precautions to avoid or lessen dentinal hypersensitivity before, during, and after teeth whitening therapy.

At least one week prior to teeth whitening treatment, switch to a sensitive teeth toothpaste or gel. These specialized gels and toothpastes function by either obstructing the dentinal tubules' nerve terminals or by desensitizing them.

Use a teeth-whitening kit that you can use at home, and modify the application time based on how sensitive you are. Try performing more sessions but cutting the length of each session if you feel tooth sensitivity.

Ask your doctor to recommend a prescription-strength toothpaste or gel that is especially made to lessen sensitivity after teeth whitening. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently brush your teeth before rinsing your mouth with warm water as opposed to cold. By letting the desensitizing toothpaste or gel linger in your mouth for a short while before washing, you will give it more time to act.

Avoid drinking hot or cold beverages because they can irritate your nerve endings and make you feel pain. Your teeth-whitening results will remain longer if you refrain from drinking specific liquids like coffee and tea.

Depending on the cause, tooth sensitivity can be managed and usually goes away.

After some dental operations, such as fillings, root canal therapy, or whitening, teeth may become particularly sensitive. In these cases, the sensitivity will typically subside on its own. The sooner a dentist can treat tooth discomfort, the better, depending on the circumstances

Even though teeth whitening is quite safe and efficient, it is typical to feel sensitive after the procedure. Although this sensitivity is only transient, it can nevertheless be uncomfortable for the first few days following your whitening procedure. Fortunately, you can take measures to lessen this sensitivity following tooth whitening: 

• Use a desensitizing toothpaste to brush
• Apply a desensitizing gel 
• Taking painkillers
• Avoid consuming hot or cold beverages
• Eat and drink acid-free items
• Gently brush
• Use items with fluoride
• Drink with a straw