There is no need to live with severe tooth pain such as a toothache or tooth sensitivity. If you have tooth sensitivity, it’s important to understand the cause and your potential treatment options.
The causes of tooth sensitivity include cavities, fractured tooth enamel, old dental fillings, or exposed tooth root and gum disease. You teeth have a tooth enamel layer to protect the more vulnerable tissues of the teeth, which are called dentin. The dentist have small and hollow canals that can react to cold, heat and acidic foods when enamel erosion or gum recession exposes these canals.
Because there are many causes of tooth sensitivity, there are also a variety of potential treatments for hypersensitivity, including:
– Desensitizing toothpaste: This special toothpaste has compounds that block sensations from the sensitive tooth nerves, and many patients find this helpful. Desensitizing toothpaste requires several applications to provide long-term results.
– Fluoride treatment: Fluoride exposure naturally strengthens the tooth enamel, preventing acid attacks and resulting cavities. You can receive a fluoride gel application from our dental team as part of your dental checkup.
– Surgical gum grafting: If you lose gum tissue along the tooth roots, you can suffer tooth sensitivity. To perform gum grafting, an oral surgeon extracts some gum tissue from your mouth to cover the roots and treat any tooth sensitivity.
– Root canal treatment: If tooth sensitivity is too severe to respond to other treatments, you may need to undergo root canal treatment to effectively reduce tooth discomfort.
The best treatment for tooth sensitivity is always prevention, which can be achieved by brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste and soft-bristled toothbrush, flossing every day and avoiding acidic foods.
To learn more about how to treat tooth sensitivity in Lexington, Kentucky, schedule an appointment with our dentist, Dr. Gregory Stahr, by contacting All Stahr Dental PSC at 859.278.9391 today.