Sensitive teeth can become a real issue, especially in the winter. Many patients report worse sensitivity in the winter. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS of Holmdel, NJ wants to remind patients of how to avoid sensitive teeth.
Sensitive teeth may be caused by many things. Sometimes they need attention from your dentist, like if you have cavities, an infection, or gum disease. You should always be evaluated by your dentist if you are experiencing sensitivity. However, often time sensitive teeth can be avoided by our oral hygiene habits.
Habits that may cause teeth to become sensitive include brushing too hard, using abrasive tooth cleaning products, brushing too soon, and frequently consuming acidic foods and drinks. Because it only takes a light touch to brush away plaque, brushing too hard can actually wear away enamel, exposing the dentin. The dentin is the soft inner layer of the tooth that has thousands of tubes that lead to the tooth’s nerves. Other ways tooth enamel erodes includes acidic damage. Acidic foods and drinks along with brushing too soon after eating can allow the acid to soften enamel and make it disappear. Have you heard of using baking soda as a popular home remedy for white teeth? Baking soda is very abrasive and can also expose the tiny nerve tubes. Not to mention, exposing dentin may actually make your teeth appear darker.
If you are experiencing sensitive teeth, make sure to come in for an examination. To schedule with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in our Holmdel, NJ practice, call us at (732) 264-8180 or our website, www.dentistnj.com.
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