Home Remedy for a Sensitive Tooth

If you've recently had dental work, you may have noticed that your teeth are more prone to pain when drinking coffee, eating ice cream or chewing tough foods. Extreme temperature or pressure sensitivity comes from irritated nerve endings in your teeth. And while you can ease the sensitivity through the use of toothpastes formulated for sensitive teeth, there are home remedies that will help to ease the sensitivity as well.

Brush Your Teeth

• Plaque buildup, a white sticky substance that clings to teeth and can crystallize into rock hard deposits, can produce acids that infiltrate the teeth, irritate nerves and make them more sensitive. This is particularly a problem for people who already have naturally sensitive teeth. By brushing your teeth, you can remove plaque and get rid of the surface source of irritation. Use toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth and a tooth brush with soft bristles. Additionally, brush your teeth softly rather than pressing down, particularly around the gum line where a lot of sensitivity occurs. Brushing your teeth too hard may lead to additional sensitivity in your teeth and bruised or receding gums. Use a gentle up and down motion instead of a side-to-side motion.

Avoid Temperature Extremes

• Avoid foods that are very cold or very hot. If your food or drinks are hot enough to burn your mouth, they may crack or weaken your teeth. As cracks in your teeth deepen, they will transport hot or cold temperatures deep into your teeth and promote sensitivity. You should also avoid drinking or eating extremely hot or cold foods in quick succession. The extreme change in temperatures can heighten tooth sensitivity or damage your teeth as well. You should also brush your teeth with lukewarm water.

Avoid Acidic and Sweet Foods

• Another source of tooth sensitivity occurs when the enamel of your teeth wears away. This can cause temperature extremes to reach the nerve endings of your teeth more easily. To prevent this thinning of your enamel, avoid eating acidic foods such as tomato-based sauces or lemon drinks. Drinking several diet soft drinks daily can also promote tooth sensitivity.

Avoid Toothache Remedies

• For an abscessed tooth, some doctors recommend oil of cloves or a salt water gargle. While these remedies are good for short-term pain relief, they can actually make tooth sensitivity worse. Long-term use of oil of cloves can burn the gum line and make sensitivity in this area worse, while salt water can stimulate movement of fluids in exposed openings of the dentin and aggravate your pain.