Sensitive Teeth – Prevention And Treatment in Chelmsford

Tooth sensitivity can range from being inconvenient to very painful. It doesn’t have to be this way….

If we bite and hold our teeth into a freezing cold ice cream, most of us will experience at least a certain degree of discomfort as the cold meets our teeth. Naturally, we wouldn’t normally do this, but even eating very cold or hot food and drinks in the usual way can cause problems for some people who experience a sharp and sometimes very severe pain when doing so.

Tooth sensitivity is a problem experienced by approximately 1 in 8 people in the UK to varying degrees. It is largely preventable in the majority of cases but even when the problem does arise, there are dental treatments available here in Chelmsford that can help you to eat and drink comfortably again.

Causes of sensitive teeth

Whilst a few of you might experience sensitive teeth caused by naturally very thin enamel, passed down through family genes, most of us have healthy enamel on our teeth that prevents this discomfort. The problem arises when this enamel becomes compromised. This largely happens in two ways.

Accidents

When a tooth becomes damaged through impact or we bite on something harder than expected, it might break and require filling or even a crown. Equally likely though is that a small crack will appear. This might not be noticeable to the naked eye but can make a significant difference when we eat or drink something hot or cold. Damaged enamel will expose the dentin layer of our teeth which is porous and allows sensations to travel quickly to the nerves that are located in the root canals of our teeth.

If you have an accident or a fall where your teeth are impacted; even if you can’t see any obvious damage, please arrange to have them checked by one of our Chelmsford dental  team. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Enamel erosion

In many cases, tooth sensitivity arrives slowly. This is usually due to the enamel on our teeth becoming eroded. In many cases this will be due to diet, especially through consumption of too much sugar. This is often made worse when this comes in the form of sugary drinks which pass directly over our teeth when we drink them. We would recommend that you avoid these drinks as much as you can and drink water or sugar-free options instead.

The other cause of enamel erosion is when we grind our teeth together. This can be difficult to control as it is often caused by stress and occurs whilst we are asleep. In extreme cases, this can even result in a tooth shattering, but more often than not, it results in gradual wearing away of the enamel and exposure of the dentin below it.

Treating sensitive teeth

There are a few ways that you can reduce the discomfort of sensitive teeth. When you eat or drink, you can always choose to let your food or drink cool down or warm up a little before consuming it. This can be inconvenient when eating out with friends and isn’t an ideal solution. There are also toothpastes also available which can reduce the sensitivity. These work either by blocking the dentinal tubules in the teeth or desensitising the nerves. Whilst this is a useful way to ease the discomfort, there is a more permanent solution that can be provided by our cosmetic dental team. That solution is porcelain teeth veneers.

Many cases of tooth sensitivity are experienced on the front surface of the front teeth. A long term solution to this problem, once it has occurred, is to restore the surface enamel. This could be attempted using composite bonding but porcelain dental veneers are a much stronger and longer lasting solution. In addition to this, they are stain resistant and can also help you have a nicer looking smile. In the case of damaged enamel, a fine layer will usually be removed by the dentist before he or she  takes impressions of your teeth. You may also be fitted with temporary veneers whilst the impressions are used by a dental laboratory to custom manufacture your new veneers.

To fit these, the temporary veneers are first removed and the new veneers attached using a strong clinical adhesive. The new veneers are then trimmed and polished to give them a natural appearance. Once fitted, you will be free to eat whatever you want without experiencing the pain of tooth sensitivity. Looked after correctly, veneers can last for ten years or more.

If you suffer from sensitive teeth and would like to eliminate this problem, why not arrange an appointment with one of our experienced Chelmsford dental team who will be able to help you. To arrange your appointment, please call Blue Sky Dental on 01245 211070.