Working With The Right Dentist

How To Prevent Tooth Sensitivity

4 March 2015

Pamela Watkins

Sensitive teeth are a common problem for many adults, and can cause a great deal of annoyance and pain in your day to day life. If you have sensitive teeth, or if you want to prevent yourself from developing them in the future, there are a number of things that you can do to prevent or reduce the sensitivity of your teeth.

Preventing Tooth Sensitivity

• Brushing: If you brush too hard, or use a hard bristled toothbrush, you can wear down the enamel on your teeth and expose the sensitive layers of your teeth. You can fix this by using a soft bristled brush and making an effort to brush lightly. You do not have to put a lot of force into brushing your teeth- being thorough is often enough.
• Grinding: Many people grind their teeth while they sleep. Most people who do this often find themselves experiencing jaw pain or headaches in the morning. If this is the case, you should talk with your dentist about getting a custom molded mouth guard to protect your teeth. Grinding your teeth will wear down the enamel of your teeth, and can even cause your teeth to crack or splinter in your sleep. At the same time, you can try to reduce causes of stress in your life, as this is the most common cause of teeth grinding.
• Acidic Foods: Stay away from foods like lemons, limes, and other acidic foods, as these can eat away at your teeth, and can also cause severe pain if you already have sensitive teeth. The same can be said about sugary foods, which can cause a reaction.
• Fluoride Toothpaste: If you're already experiencing sensitive teeth, you can switch out your normal toothpaste or mouthwash for one that has fluoride added into it. Fluoride helps strengthen your teeth's enamel, and can help reduce or even prevent sensitive reactions to temperature and food.
• Receding Gums: A common part of aging, receding gums can result from a number of different factors, ranging from brushing in the wrong way to gum disease. Consult with a dentist (such as one from Roy And Kali Family Dental Centre) to see if your gums are receding, and if so what can be done for it. You may simply have to change how you brush your teeth, or you may require a restorative procedure.
• Scheduling: If you brush your teeth and use mouthwash more than two times a day, you may be wearing down your teeth through abrasion and friction over time faster than natural. This could be the cause of your sensitive teeth. The best thing to do is to brush in the morning, after breakfast, and at night, before going to bed.

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