If the first thought that comes to mind when we say ‘ice cream’ or ‘iced water’ is OUCH, you are probably suffering from cold-sensitive teeth. Having sensitive teeth is not an un-healthy or uncommon thing, but there is a difference between sensitive teeth and enamel or gum disease.

The first question we need to answer is “What causes cold-sensitive teeth?” Because it MAY be something you can fix.

• Enamel – the outer layer of your tooth, the enamel, could be thinning for many reasons. Grinding your teeth in your sleep or due to stress is a high cause of wearing away that enamel which exposes the nerve of the tooth.
• Gums Disease – if you’re noticing sore or red gums there’s a chance you could have contacted gum disease which causes tooth sensitivity in some cases, but don’t worry, this can easily be treated by having good oral health, and contacting Paddington Dentistry for a check up.
• Shrinking gums – this is a natural thing that occurs as you get older; if it is becoming a big problem in your life, contact Paddington Dentistry to discuss treatments that can help assist in gum growth.
• Cracked tooth – Although it may not look like it can cause much harm, a small crack could have gone up to the roots, which is causing the pain. You’ll need to contact us to fix the tooth so we can remove the sensitive feeling.

So, what are the steps you can do to help prevent or cure your cold-sensitive teeth without spending the big bucks on cosmetic dentistry?

Although brushing is the most obvious answer in cleaning and looking after you teeth, make sure you’re not doing it too hard – as you could be taking off more than just your plaque, and could be hacking away at that important enamel. Make sure you are using a soft toothbrush, or a low speed electric one.

If you’re diet consists of a lot of sugary and acidic drinks, it’s a lifestyle change you may need to consider. The sugar in these drinks eats away at the enamel, making your teeth more sensitive, and causing lots of pain.

If you’re a teeth grinder you’ll need to come up with ways to beat the habit. If you’re sleep-grinding we highly consider trying out a mouth guard. As a cheap alternative, visit ozdenta who offers sleep mouth guards from just $14. However if it’s something that’s only happened recently and could be due to stress or depression, please contact your GP for ways to help.

Bright smiles are great, and we offer plenty of cosmetic options to whiten your teeth, but if you’re experience tooth sensitivity, we highly advise you avoid bleaching your teeth until it’s all under control.

So in summary, yes there are natural ways to avoid or try to heal tooth-sensitivity, but you’ll need to make your oral care is a high priority and make sure you’re doing all the above steps to avoid the sensitive pain.

For a dental check up, contact Paddington Dentistry on (02) 9360 6245.