What Causes Sensitive Teeth?

Does sensitivity keep you from enjoying your favorite cold treat?  Does a cup of coffee make your mouth cringe?  You may be suffering from sensitive teeth.  But what causes sensitive teeth and how can you fix it?  Here are a few possible causes and suggestions to help you get started.

1. Exposed tooth roots - Many of us brush way too hard under the impression that harder means cleaner.  It doesn’t.  Brushing too hard can eventually wear away your gums leaving your tooth roots exposed.  The tooth root has pores that lead to the nerve of the tooth.  When these pores are exposed triggers like hot and cold have a much quicker access to the root causing discomfort or pain.  Talk to your dentist.  He may suggest a sensitivity toothpaste or mouthwash.

2. Tooth decay – Tooth decay can also cause sensitivity.  The most common form of decay is cavities.  A second form of tooth decay is cracking.  Large fillings can lead to weakness in the rest of the tooth, providing the potential for cracking.  Additionally, munching on too many hard treats like candy or ice can also lead to a crack.  To fix the sensitivity, you would need to eliminate the decay.  Schedule an appointment with your dentist to find relief from sensitivity caused by tooth decay.

3. Too much acid – Acid in the things we eat and drink can eventually wear away the enamel on teeth, leaving the dentin exposed.  Without the enamel barrier, teeth can easily become sensitive.  Your dentist will know how to help you minimize future acid erosion and protect the dentin already exposed.

4. Whitening agents – Over-whitening and working continuously to keep our pearly whites pearly can cause sensitivity.  Bleach and other chemicals used in teeth whitening products can cause sensitivity throughout your mouth. The simplest solution may be to stop using the whitening product; or talk with your dentist about switching to different whitening methods, or using different product lines.
 

If you or any family members have further questions, please contact us and we would be happy to discuss any concerns.  Why wait.......call today (512) 992-2822 or visit our website Rigby Advanced Dental.

Thumbsucking........Is It Bad Long Term?

That’s a common question we hear from a lot of parents.

Thumb sucking is a natural and common behavior that many babies start naturally on their own. Babies have a reflex for sucking, and will automatically begin to suck on anything placed in or around their mouths shortly after birth. If their thumbs come in contact with their mouths, the process begins.

This sucking reflex begins to disappear around the age of 4 months as a child moves on to different milestones. Yet thumb sucking can continue because it no longer is a reflex, but instead turns into a habit that provides comfort and relief.

If you watch a child that sucks his or her thumb, you’ll notice the thumb sucking is usually associated with a need: maybe they are tired, hungry, or scared. While many children stop the habit on their own, it can be something that continues on for years. This is when thumb sucking can become a problem. Prolonged thumb sucking may cause:

• A child’s teeth to become improperly aligned, pushing the front teeth outward

• Malformation of the palate roof of the mouth due to prolonged contraction from the sucking action

• Speech problems, including mispronouncing certain letters of the alphabet, and lisps when talking

When should you begin to take action?

For the most part, experts agree that you should ignore the behavior in children and toddlers preschool age and under. Most children will stop thumb sucking on their own; the more emphasis you put on it, the bigger deal it will become.

If the habit continues on from there, the best way to handle the situation is to help the child stop sucking on their own.

Give the child extra attention when thumb sucking is most prevalent.

Help them find other ways of dealing with stress.

Talk openly about thumb sucking and what you can do to stop/change the behavior.

Apply something that tastes bad onto the thumb as a means of helping your child accomplish the goal of quitting. It should be used with his/her permission as a reminder, not as a deterrent from you.

Apply a bandage around the thumb as a reminder.

Distract the child when he/she begins to suck. Start an activity that requires the use of both hands.

If you or any family members have further questions, please contact us and we would be happy to discuss any concerns.  Why wait.......call today (512) 992-2822 or visit our website Rigby Advanced Dental.