Five Tips for Dealing with Sensitive Teeth
Tooth sensitivity can range from light sensations to painful ones from everyday activities such as eating, drinking, brushing, or flossing. These sensitivities can appear overnight or be consistent in your day to day. Regardless of what your personal experience is, there are ways to deal with the situation to avoid the discomfort.
It is important to understand that while the tips below highlight some simple methods to combat tooth sensitivity, the root cause can be much deeper than the symptoms. We want to encourage you to book an appointment with our team for a checkup to examine your mouth and make sure that the root problem is dealt with before it escalates. While you wait for your appointment, you can relieve your sensitive teeth by implementing the following tips:
Use Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth
Toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth is the ideal go-to for brushing. These toothpastes were created with the purpose of relieving tooth sensitivity and have all the ingredients necessary to make that happen. Some of these toothpastes have specific ingredients that help fill tiny holes in your enamel and dentin. These act as temporary fills but can offer immediate relief as they reduce the exposure your teeth’s nerves will receive.
Use Toothbrushes with Soft Bristles
The last thing you want to do when suffering from tooth sensitivity is to brush your teeth with hard bristles. Hard bristles can be aggressive on the enamel and create even further microscopic holes. This translates into more tooth sensitivities. Hard bristles are also known for worsening gum recession. This leads to exposed dentin and sensitive nerves. Switching from a toothbrush with hard bristles to a toothbrush with soft bristles will prevent a lot of these issues. In addition, you will want to brush your teeth gently to avoid further damage.
Use Salt Water as a Mouthwash
One of the fastest ways to reduce tooth sensitivity is rinsing with saltwater! Saltwater is notoriously known for balancing the pH in the mouth, which creates an alkaline environment in which bacteria struggle to survive. It also offers the added benefit of reducing plaque buildup. This easy DIY solution can be created by two teaspoons of salt with one cup of warm water. You can use this solution twice a day until the sensitivity improves.
Oil Pulling with Coconut Water
Bacterial overgrowth is one of the leading causes of tooth sensitivity. The good news is that coconut oil is a fantastic natural antibacterial. It has the capability of hindering bacterial growth, breaking down plaque in the teeth, and removing germs and toxins from the surface of the gums. This simple remedy has been used for many years and has proven to be worth the try. In order to give this technique a go, all you need is a spoonful of coconut oil. You will swish it around your mouth for a minute or two and then spit it out. We don’t recommend that you spit it out in your sink as oil can often clog the pipes. Once you spit it out, you will want to rinse your mouth with warm water to remove any leftovers of the oil.
Have Your Gums Checked By A Dentist
As we mentioned earlier, tooth sensitivity can often be a symptom of a bigger problem. It is important that you get your teeth looked at as soon as you start experiencing discomfort. This will allow for the root problem to be caught and dealt with before it escalates in severity. Our team would be delighted to help you resolve this situation. Please contact our office to book an appointment as soon as possible.
We understand that dealing with discomfort in your teeth can be overwhelming. We hope that the tips above help relieve some of the sensitivity you are experiencing. We also hope that you get your teeth looked at to ensure that you can resolve the main issue causing the sensitivities.
