Dentist In Edmond Sharing About Sensitive Teeth
Have you ever taken a bite of something really hot or super cold and noticed a painful experience? This is only one sign of having sensitive teeth. Eating , drinking, and simple teeth brushing tasks can be challenging for some patients with if they are in this predicament. The truth behind the problem is often revealed in the dentist chair at our Edmond dentist office.
So what could cause sensitive teeth, you wonder? Here are a few issues our dentist in Edmond would look for which could be causing your pain:
- Cavities
- A broken tooth or broken teeth
- Fillings that have been worn down or broken
- A tooth root that has been exposed
- Gum disease
Healthy teeth require protection. Luckily, a natural layer of protection, called enamel sits on your teeth, above the gum line, like a barrier. Below the gum line is a layer called the Cementum, this protects your roots. Beneath those layers is another layer called Dentin, which is filled with many small and hollow tubes. When the Dentin is exposed to hot and cold foods like coffee and ice cream that’s when it can impact the root causing you pain.
There are several ways to treat sensitive teeth. Here are a few tips from our dentist in Edmond:
- Desensitizing toothpaste. The product will dull the sensitivity of the nerve.
- Fluoride gel. Fluoride Gel is applied in office and helps to strengthen tooth enamel.
- A crown, inlay or bonding. These can be used to correct flaws with the teeth.
- Surgical gum graft. An extreme measure but this can help replace lost gum tissue.
- Root canal. Your dentist may recommend this option if nothing else seems to be working.
Maintaining proper oral hygiene practices are some of the easiest and best ways to prevent sensitivity in your teeth. Preventing the enamel from ever decaying or the gums from receding is the best defense against allowing roots to be exposed.
If you have any questions about how you can improve your dental hygiene just ask our dentist in Edmond. If you’d like to book an appointment with our dentist in Edmond, please feel free to reach out to Philip Gray, DDS at 405-330-5458.
