What happens when you eat ice cream or drink hot tea? Are you someone who loves ice cream, but generally avoid it because taking a bite leaves you wincing in pain? If so, you are not alone! Sudden, sharp tooth pain is one of the most common dental conditions our practice encounters here at Chalfont Dentistry located in Chalfont, Pennsylvania.
So, why do your teeth hurt? Beneath tooth enamel, there are tiny tubes in the tissue of the dentin carrying fluid to the nerves. When this fluid moves within the tubes, you might feel nerve irritation. Normally, dentin is protected by tooth enamel, but if your gums have receded or your enamel has worn down, the tubules might become exposed, making you vulnerable to temperature extremes.
For our patients dealing with tooth sensitivity, we recommend using a desensitizing toothpaste and brushing gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Also, limit consuming soft drinks and acidic foods to protect from further enamel erosion can help. In addition, tooth sensitivity might be reduced by the following:
Fluoride: applying fluoride to the sensitive areas of your teeth.
Desensitizing or bonding: sometimes we can treat exposed root surfaces by applying bonding resin to the sensitive root surfaces.
Root canal: if your sensitive teeth cause severe pain and other treatments aren’t effective, our dentist may recommend a root canal to treat problems in the tooth’s dental pulp.
Surgical gum graft: if the tooth root has lost gum tissue, our dentist might recommend taking a small amount of gum tissue from elsewhere in your mouth and attaching it to the affected site to protect the roots.
For help with ongoing tooth sensitivity, please come in and let Dr. Sindhu Gundabathula take a look at what is causing this condition. To find relief, our Chalfont Dentistry team in Chalfont, Pennsylvania, is happy to help you restore your confident smile. We can be reached at 215-660-3636 today!