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Why Do My Teeth Hurt? Your Guide to Tooth Sensitivity

Jul 16, 2020

According to WebMD, a whopping one out of eight adults suffer from sudden tooth sensitivity. If eating or drinking something cold leads to extreme oral pain, we're here to show you what the real deal is.

Are you asking yourself, "why do my teeth hurt when I eat or drink anything?"

To be quite honest with you, this question haunts many who haven't seen the dentist in a while. Here's your guide to tooth sensitivity!

Why Do My Teeth Hurt?

First of all, what causes sensitive teeth all of a sudden?

We're glad that you asked. Like most things, there are a few factors behind this question. If you're sick and tired of researching "teeth sensitive to sugar," you're not alone.

Let's dive in. Surprisingly enough, sensitive teeth and gums are most popular among people between the ages of 20 to 40 years old. On top of that, teeth sensitivity is most likely to be suffered by men.

Now that we've got that covered, we'll explore a couple of common reasons why your teeth might be hurting in the first place. In case you didn't know, significantly worn-down enamel can be a significant cause of teeth sensitivity. As the foundation of your teeth, enamel protects the tooth nerves and dentine that lie underneath.

Once your enamel starts to wear out, don't be shocked if the phrase "teeth suddenly sensitive" comes to mind. If this isn't the case, perhaps you have an exposed tooth root. In a nutshell, exposed tooth roots can occur on the least protected part of your tooth.

That's why the odds are so high that this is the root of your problem (see what we did there?) All jokes aside, cavities can be to blame for how your tooth nerves and dentine became exposed too. Of course, cavities lead to sensitivity and sore teeth like no other.

Besides this, having a chipped or cracked tooth can expose your nerves to harsh conditions. Also, people that have an ill-fitting or worn-out filling are a greater risk of developing cavities as well.

Naturally, this can cause problems similar to what they may have experienced before they got a filling. Between gum erosion and disease, the odds of having teeth sensitivity increase tenfold!

How to Treat Sensitive Teeth

When it comes to treating sensitive teeth, there are a plethora of dental products that you can try. Sometimes, store-bought products or home remedies can be an easy, quick fix for tooth sensitivity. However, more serious cases of sensitive teeth require an emergency trip to the dentist. That's because the underlying root of your teeth sensitivity can turn into a terrible toothache if left untreated. In the meantime, take a look at a few natural dental treatments that might work for you.

You may be surprised to find out that coconut oil is the number one remedy for sensitive teeth. Here's how it works. By doing a process called oil pulling, you can swish around coconut oil in your mouth to strengthen sensitive teeth and reduce gum disease.

In addition to this, saltwater rinses can alleviate sensitivity immediately. In case you didn't know, saltwater is known to reduce inflammation with its anti-septic properties. Do yourself a favor and add a teaspoon of sea salt to a cup of boiling water. Then, stir in the salt until it evaporates. Next, let it cool and use it to rinse your mouth for instant relief from tooth pain.

Bonus points: saltwater is also celebrated for its ability to eliminate plaque like nothing else.

Have you tried warm water and honey rinse yet? If not, expect it to work as well as a saltwater rinse. Due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-septic properties, warm water and honey rinses destroy tooth pain. Lastly, there's clove oil gel. Miraculously enough, this can be used to kill tooth sensitivity within 10 minutes.

If these natural remedies don't work, we highly recommend finding a mouthwash or toothpaste for tooth sensitivity. Be on the lookout for toothpaste with up to 1500 ppm of fluoride for the best results!

Fixing Teeth Sensitivity Permanently

If you're looking to improve your smile, then you might want to learn how to fix tooth sensitivity permanently. For those of you who are nodding your head "yes," here is the breakdown.

Once you visit the dentist to see what's causing your tooth sensitivity, you can work on avoiding it in the future. Don't be too confused when your dentist prescribes you fluoride to prevent tooth decay and enamel loss. By painting fluoride over the most sensitive areas, your dentist will help you to get faster results than ever.

What about prescription toothpaste?

The dentist might fill a prescription for an ultra-strength toothpaste. This will typically have 5000 ppm of fluoride, which is much more than regular toothpaste does. That way, your enamel will toughen up in no time.

Better yet, your dentist may recommend bonding resin for teeth sensitivity. This is used to protect sensitive spots with worn-out enamel. Believe it or not, bonding resin covers up the problem, reducing sensitivity instantly.

For those with tooth pain caused by cavities, the dentist might suggest a filling to prevent it from getting worse. On the other hand, people with receding gum lines and sensitive teeth may have to undergo a surgical procedure.

This can include removing gum tissue from another part of your mouth and grafting it onto your receding gumline. The best part about this procedure is that it will improve the appearance of your gumline too. Not to mention that it's a long-term solution for teeth sensitivity.

Last but not least, root canal surgery is always an option. Even though this surgical procedure is reserved for extreme cases, it works well for removing exposed tooth nerves. While this might sound drastic, it's the ultimate cure for tooth sensitivity!

FAQs About Sensitive Teeth

Now that you've soaked up the treatments, causes, and solutions for teeth sensitivity, we'll answer your final questions. Some of the most frequently asked questions about tooth sensitivity can be found below.

What is making my teeth so sensitive?

Essentially, sensitive teeth and gums are the results of a worn-away enamel coating on your teeth. That's not all. If your tooth sensitivity starts to feel out of this world, then infection, cavity, or gum disease might be to blame. Visit your local dentist for a check-up to spot any underlying problems that should be treated.

How can I get rid of tooth sensitivity?

You can reduce tooth pain sensitivity by using mouthwash and toothpaste that can strengthen and protect your enamel. For a more permanent fix, you'll have to see your dentist for a filling, a gum graft or a bonding resin procedure. The last resort is this: root canal treatment.

Why are my teeth sensitive during pregnancy?

You might be astonished to find out that tooth sensitivity is heightened for pregnant women. Hormonal changes can make your mouth more vulnerable to plaque-like build up. Sadly, this can cause gum disease, plaque, and much worse.

In some countries, pregnant women and new mothers are provided with free dental care for the first year after birth. If free dentistry isn't available in your country, book an appointment at your nearest dentist's office instead.

Will whitening products make my teeth sensitive?

You can develop tooth sensitivity after using a home whitening kit or visiting your dentist. Nonetheless, some whitening kits are specially designed to be gentle on your teeth. You can use whitening products for half the amount of recommended time as well. Then, build up your whitening treatment slowly, depending on how your teeth are feeling!

Don't Let Sudden Teeth Sensitivity Stop You

You might be wondering: why do my teeth hurt?

Fortunately for you, we've compiled a useful guide to help you figure out why your teeth are hurting and how to stop the pain. After you find out what's making your teeth hurt, you've got to discover how to treat it correctly.

Whether it's using a remedy at home or making a dentist appointment, the smartest thing that you can do is to take action right away. Otherwise, you're putting yourself at a greater risk of developing gum disease, erosion, and more.

Nobody wants that, right? We didn't think so. So, pick up the phone and call your local dentist now.

Trust us - you won't regret it!

Looking for a family dentist in the Mississauga area?

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Dr. Ehab Daas

Meet your doctor

Dr. Ehab is a passionate dentist with 15 years of dental experience. He received his D.D.S in 1997, and has practiced dentistry for 6 years since then. Immediately after that, Dr. Da'as moved to Paris to get his Orthodontics and Prosthodontic diploma's in which he specialized in fixed bridges and crowns. He graduated from France with remarkable achievements in 2005, and went on to work for 9 years, focusing on difficult orthodontics cases and satisfying his ortho patients. Dr. Ehab moved to Canada in 2014 to continue his career, where he is proud and extremely honoured to provide his patients with the highest quality service.

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