How to Make Sensitive Teeth Feel Better

Sensitive and hypersensitive teeth plague many Americans. If you feel pain or discomfort eating sweets, touching your teeth together, or while drinking hot or cold beverages, you too have sensitive teeth. Sensitivity may be caused by poor dental hygiene, wearing away of tooth enamel, cracked teeth or fillings, cavities, teeth-whitening procedures or receding gums. However, there are many ways to make sensitive teeth feel better and to prevent sensitivity from recurring in the future.

Things You'll Need

• Fluoride toothpaste
• Fluoride mouthwash
• Floss

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Visit the dentist annually for a teeth cleaning and checkup. Cavities, cracked teeth, or broken fillings can all be fixed by a dentist and should be repaired before they get worse. Your dentist can pinpoint areas of sensitivity and will be able to tell if you are grinding or clenching your teeth while you sleep. Dental hygienists can also instruct you on proper dental care and will often treat your teeth with fluoride in order prevent cavities and reduce sensitivity.

• 2

  Brush your teeth at least twice a day to reduce plaque build-up. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush gently with an up-and-down motion instead of side to side. Make sure to spend at least two minutes brushing, and thoroughly clean the inner, outer, and chewing surfaces of every tooth. Try brushing with warm water if cold water irritates sensitive teeth.

• 3

  Floss every day to keep your teeth clean and prevent cavities. Flossing removes plaque, prevents bad breath, fights gum disease and is a very important part of proper dental hygiene. If you struggle with traditional floss, dental flossers and floss-threaders work just as well.

• 4

  Use a fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash. Fluoride reduces sensitivity by strengthening tooth enamel. There are many toothpastes available specifically designed for sensitive teeth.

• 5

  Use a night guard if you grind or clench your teeth. Night guards are made of high-quality plastic and fit in your mouth to prevent the effects of teeth grinding, which may include pain, noise, trouble sleeping, and destruction of tooth enamel. Custom guards are available from your dentist and will provide the best fit, though they will be more expensive.

• 6

  Stop chewing tobacco. In addition to cancers of the mouth and throat, chewing tobacco or snuff causes tooth abrasion and gum recession, which in turn leads to gum decay and tooth sensitivity.

• 7

  Avoid overly sweet or acidic foods and beverages such as hard candies, soda, coffee, and citrus fruits. They may exacerbate your sensitivity, increase your risk of cavities, or wear down your enamel.

• 8

  Ask your dentist for chemical desensitization or surface sealers if other measures don't provide relief. Desensitization is the most common treatment and surface sealers are also very effective, although more expensive.