4 Reasons You May Have Sensitive Teeth (and What You Can Do About It)

Ideally, the hard outer coating on your teeth — the enamel — should protect them. That doesn’t just mean keeping them safe from decay. It also means keeping the sensitive pulp inside from feeling too much sensation when you eat and drink. 

Unfortunately, quite a few things can leave you with sensitive teeth. If you’re dealing with this uncomfortable problem, talk with Dr. Sujay Trivedi, Dr. Michael Westcott, and our team at Family Dental Care in West Palm Beach, Florida. We can help you find out what’s going on and, more importantly, help you resolve it. 

With that goal in mind, let’s look at four common causes of tooth sensitivity, plus their fixes. 

1. Worn enamel

Sometimes, the enamel on the exterior of your teeth wears thin. Brushing too hard or exposing your teeth to a lot of acid (i.e., from soda, orange juice, or coffee) could be the root cause of this issue. Once your enamel gets thin, the sensitive inner portion of your tooth becomes exposed, causing ongoing dental sensitivity. 

What you can do

Make sure you brush your teeth gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Also, avoid high-acid foods, beverages, and mouthwashes to prevent this problem from getting worse.

Unfortunately, once enamel has worn down, it doesn’t come back. That said, there are steps you can take to remineralize your teeth to help to protect them and make them less sensitive. 

2. An exposed tooth root

You might have naturally thin gum tissue, or your gums might be receding because of gum disease or brushing too hard. Either way, if the root of your tooth becomes exposed, it can contribute to easy sensitivity. 

What you can do

At-home oral hygiene (brushing and flossing daily) and twice-yearly teeth cleanings go a long way in helping you reverse early gum disease. This helps your gum tissue grow back, covering more of the tooth root and easing your sensitivity. 

If you’re genetically predisposed to thin gums, gum graft surgery may be a helpful approach. 

3. Untreated tooth decay

Untreated tooth decay — otherwise known as a cavity — can expose the sensitive pulp inside the affected tooth to air, food particles, and beverages. 

What you can do

Visit our team twice a year so we can check for cavities. If we find any, we can treat them right away to help prevent — or put a stop to — decay-related tooth sensitivity. In most cases, that means getting a filling. If the decay is extensive, though, you may need a root canal. 

4. Over-the-counter whitening products

Using store-bought whitening toothpaste or mouthwash, or over-the-counter whitening kits can make your teeth more sensitive. How? These products often contain harsh whiteners that penetrate your hard enamel, reaching through to the underlying dentin layer and triggering sensitivity within the inner pulp, where your dental nerves reside.    

What you can do

Instead of using whitening products from the store, talk with our team of smile makeover specialists. We can set you up with an Opalescence® Go at-home whitening kit, which gives you high-quality results with minimal sensitivity. 

If you’re experiencing tooth sensitivity, we’re here to help you find out why so you can get relief. To get started, call at 561-556-1698 today, or use our online booking feature any time.