What Are the Treatments for Sensitive Teeth?

Sensitive teeth is an easy diagnosis. If your find that your teeth hurt after drinking something hot like a glass of tea, you probably have sensitive teeth. The opposite can also be true. Extremely cold drinks and foods such as ice water, can also cause a painful sensation. Your dentist will be able to pinpoint the exact cause of your sensitive teeth and then you can both make a plan on how to treat it. There are also some things you can begin doing at home.

Switching Toothpaste

• Switch from your regular toothpaste to a toothpaste that is made for sensitive teeth. Sensodyne is one brand that caters to sensitive teeth. These toothpastes work by stopping your teeth from sending pain messages to the nerves. The nerves are responsible for telling your brain that you are in pain, so if the nerves don't report the pain, you won't feel it.

Desensitizing the Tooth

• If your sensitive teeth are severe, you may want to have your dentist apply a professional strength desensitizing gel. You will have to go back to the dentist for several treatments before you begin to see some longer lasting results. The dentist may also want to give you some fluoride treatments as well. It will help if you have dental insurance because repeated visits can quickly add up.

Procedures

• When all of the desensitizing methods have failed to work, your dentist will have no choice but to perform a procedure to correct the cause of the sensitive teeth. This could be as simple as filling a cavity or as complicated as conducting a root canal. Another possibility is exposed roots in which the roots would have to be covered up by a gum graph. Only your doctor will know the cause and how to fix it.