- Brushing your teeth, a bit too enthusiastically! Pushing down on your toothbrush and brushing too hard won’t make your teeth cleaner, but it may wear away the protective enamel layer and make them sensitive; so, when you brush remember to brush gently and with a soft toothbrush. Are you damaging your tooth enamel?
- Gum disease can cause your gums to recede, exposing the root surfaces which can trigger sensitivity. Here's how to avoid it.
- Grinding or clenching your teeth can wear away your tooth enamel and usually happens while you are sleeping.
- Erosion of the tooth enamel by acidic drinks and foods, or stomach acid from reflux or vomiting.
- Chipped, broken, or decayed teeth can cause the nerve in the tooth to become irritated and sensitive.
- Recent dental work such as restorations, crowns, fillings and even a routine scale and clean may result in sensitive teeth, but this is usually temporary.
How to avoid sensitive teeth
- Brush and floss regularly and make sure you are brushing your teeth correctly – if you’re not sure, ask your dentist.
- Always use soft toothbrush and consider using toothpaste for sensitive teeth as a part of your daily routine.
- When you eat or drink something acidic, it’s best to rinse your mouth with water and chew sugar-free gum afterwards and wait at least 60 minutes before brushing.
It’s important to remember that some tooth sensitivity is caused by more serious problems, including tooth decay, a fractured filling, a cracked tooth or even a root canal problem. So always let your dentist know if you are suffering from sensitive teeth.
Source: Australian Dental Association
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