Tooth sensitivity can be a real challenge for many people, but it doesn’t have to be a lifelong sentence. With the right care and habits, you can alleviate and even prevent this uncomfortable condition.

Understand the Cause

Tooth sensitivity often arises when the protective layers of teeth get worn down, exposing the soft, inner part of the tooth called the dentin. This can occur due to a variety of factors, including tooth decay, gum disease, grinding teeth, or even aggressive brushing. It’s important to understand that tooth sensitivity isn’t a standalone problem, but usually a symptom of underlying oral health issues.

Proper Brushing Techniques

How you brush matters just as much as how often. If you brush too hard or use a hard-bristled toothbrush, you can wear down the enamel, leading to tooth sensitivity. Instead, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and apply gentle, circular motions to clean your teeth. This is just as effective at removing plaque and is much kinder to your teeth and gums.

Here at Your Oviedo Dentist, we recommend and offer the Sonicare toothbrush. Many Sonicare models include a pressure sensor that alerts you if you’re brushing too hard. Applying excessive pressure while brushing can wear away enamel and irritate your gums, both of which can increase tooth sensitivity. With a Sonicare toothbrush, you’ll always know that you’re brushing just right.

Sonicare toothbrushes often feature multiple brushing modes, including a sensitive mode specifically designed for people with sensitive teeth or gums. This mode operates at a lower intensity, ensuring a comfortable and effective cleaning experience without causing any discomfort.

Desensitizing Toothpaste

Numerous brands offer toothpaste specifically designed to help reduce tooth sensitivity. These products often contain compounds that help block the transmission of sensation from the tooth surface to the nerve, thereby reducing sensitivity. One such product is PreviDent, a fluoride toothpaste that not only desensitizes but also strengthens enamel, providing an added layer of protection against sensitivity. By strengthening weakened tooth enamel,  it enables it to resist acid erosion, and reduces the potential for dentin exposure. Remember, however, that as potent as it is, PreviDent is a prescription toothpaste and should be used under the guidance of your dental professional.

With regular use, these desensitizing toothpastes can significantly alleviate tooth sensitivity. However, it’s important to note that they provide symptomatic relief and may not address the underlying cause of tooth sensitivity. Therefore, persistent sensitivity should always be evaluated by a dental professional. At Your Oviedo Dentist, we are always ready to assist you in selecting the right toothpaste for your dental needs.

Mind Your Diet

Acidic foods and drinks, such as citrus fruits, soda and wine, can erode your tooth enamel over time, exposing the sensitive dentin beneath. Try to limit these in your diet, and when you do consume them, use a straw to limit their contact with your teeth.

Use a Fluoride Mouthwash

A fluoride mouthwash can contribute to strengthening your enamel, thus reducing sensitivity. It’s a quick and easy addition to your oral hygiene routine that can have a significant impact on your dental comfort.

Consider a Night Guard

Many people unconsciously grind their teeth during their sleep, a condition known as bruxism. Over time, this can wear down the enamel and lead to sensitivity. If you wake up with a sore jaw or a headache, or if your partner reports that you make grinding noises in your sleep, consider discussing a night guard with us at Your Oviedo Dentist.

Regular Dental Checkups

Regular dental checkups are a cornerstone of maintaining good oral health. Your dentist can spot and address issues before they become major problems. If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, don’t hesitate to bring it up at your next appointment. There may be treatments, such as a fluoride gel or dental sealant, that we can apply to protect your teeth and reduce sensitivity.

Remember, you don’t have to live with tooth sensitivity. With the right habits and care, you can keep your teeth healthy and your smile bright. And remember, at Your Oviedo Dentist, we are always here to help. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that your oral health is the best it can be. If you have any concerns about tooth sensitivity or any other dental issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Your comfort and health are our top priorities.

At Your Oviedo Dentist, we care about more than just your teeth; we genuinely CARE ABOUT YOU. We’re dedicated to providing compassionate, professional, and state-of-the-art dental care to everyone in our community. Together, let’s make tooth sensitivity a thing of the past!

The post Soothing the Bite: A Guide for People with Sensitive Teeth first appeared on Your Oviedo Dentist.

Consider investing in a dental irrigator

Flossing your teeth is an important part of oral hygiene, but sometimes it can be difficult to get into every nook and cranny between your teeth. It’s also important to floss under any dental bridges you may have, which normally requires a specialized tool and can be even trickier than cleaning between your teeth. However, dental irrigators can help you get over this gap in an easy, user-friendly way as they use water pressure to blast away food particles and plaque from between the teeth and below the gum line. This makes it much more effective than flossing alone, as they can reach places where traditional floss cannot easily reach. In fact, they might remove plaque up to three times as effectively as string floss. That’s not to say that you should hang up the floss, as it can stimulate your gums in a way that an irrigator might not be able to. However, it might be just the one-two punch you need to get the daily cleaning you need between your teeth.

Upgrade to a specialty toothpaste and mouthwash

Although any toothpaste or mouthwash that you pull off the shelf will do an adequate job of cleaning your teeth, some of them have special properties that might meet your needs better than others. You have options for toothpaste with remineralizing properties that help maintain your dental enamel, or anti-cavity toothpaste with extra fluoride. Everyone has slightly different chemistry in their mouths due to their diets and natural differences in their physiology, and your Oviedo dentist can help you determine what your weak points are so that you can select the right toothpaste and mouthwash to counteract them.

Reduce corrosive acid in your diet

When it comes to protecting your teeth, reducing the amount of acid in your diet is absolutely crucial. Acidic foods and drinks such as soda, coffee, fruit juice, and alcohol can wear down your enamel over time. In contrast, eating a more alkaline diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables can help reduce plaque buildup, Limiting sugary snacks also helps keep acids at bay as sugar feeds bacteria in the mouth that produce acid as waste products. Finally, drinking plenty of water after eating or drinking something acidic will wash away any lingering acids from around the teeth before they have a chance to do damage. Milk may even be a better option if it fits your nutrition profile as it aids in the remineralization of teeth.

Keep yourself well-hydrated

Ensuring that you get enough water over the course of the day will not only flush out any bacteria or food particles that may have been left behind after meals, but it also dilutes acids in the mouth and helps restore minerals to tooth enamel. In addition, saliva production increases when you drink enough fluids which helps neutralize acids that cause cavities and other dental issues. Drinking more water also keeps gums hydrated which prevents them from becoming dry and irritated, reducing inflammation in the mouth as well as helping to remove plaque build-up on teeth surfaces.

Snack on crunchy vegetables like carrots and celery

Crunchy vegetables like carrots and celery can be a great way to help keep your teeth clean and free of plaque. These crunchy veggies are naturally abrasive, so when you chew them they act as a kind of mini-toothbrush, scraping off plaque and other buildup on the surface of your teeth. What’s even better is that eating these vegetables might even ward of the need to reach for another type of snack like candy or soda that will just further damage your teeth instead.

Consult a dental professional to help find the root cause of your concern

A dental professional at Your Oviedo Dentist will be able to identify any underlying issues that may be a possible contributor to any dental issues you’re experiencing and recommend treatments or strategies to help you get back on track. This can include diagnosing oral concerns that you may not be able to detect on your own, such as grinding your teeth during your sleep. The doctors at Your Oviedo Dentist also have the expertise necessary to diagnose complex conditions, such as gum disease or cavities, which can often go undetected if not examined by a trained eye. Additionally, they are knowledgeable about how certain foods and eating habits affect teeth and gums, so they can provide advice on how best to maintain healthy teeth for years to come.

Conclusion

Every patient has different dental needs, and if you find that flossing and brushing are just not enough, then there’s plenty of extra tactics to employ to help bridge that gap. While brushing and flossing more than the recommended amount may be counterproductive, incorporating other healthy habits like those listed above can instead give you a leg up in fighting further gum disease or tooth decay. By doing your best to stimulate better saliva production and avoiding food and drink that can wear away your dental enamel, you’re more likely to have a clean bill of dental health at your next checkup.

Good oral health always starts with a regular checkup, which will also give you the opportunity to ask any further questions about what you can do between visits. Your Oviedo Dentist, a private practice with six doctors (one of which is a Periodontal specialist) would be more than happy to care for all of your dental needs! Reach out today to schedule an initial visit and comprehensive exam with the Dentist. 

The post 6 Things You Can Start Doing Today to Improve Your Oral Health first appeared on Your Oviedo Dentist.