An oral hygiene is extremely important, but what to do when we have sensitive teeth? Do we need different care and treatment for teeth sensitivity? We will find all the details in the following.
Finding the source of your sensitivity is important to recommending treatment. To ease the pain in the meantime, there are some home remedies you can try until your next dental appointment.
In order to prevent this teeth sensitivity we have identified some of the sources, because knowing them can help us in prevention.Some of the causes for sensitive teeth may include:
- Brushing too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush, this can wear down enamel
- Gum recession. This often happens in people suffering from periodontal disease
- Gingivitis. Inflamed and sore gum tissue can result in exposure of the tooth's root.
- Cracked teeth. These can become filled with bacteria from plaque and cause inflammation in the pulp of the tooth
- Teeth grinding or clenching. This can wear down enamel
- Plaque buildup
- Long-term use of mouthwash. Some over-the-counter mouthwashes contain acids. If dentin is exposed dentin, the acids can make existing tooth sensitivity worse and also further damage the dentin layer
- Acidic foods. These can encourage enamel reduction.
You can try some of these treatments to ease the pain and also to prevent the symptoms:
Salt and Water rinse. Salt is an effective antiseptic and it can also help to reduce inflammation. To alleviate pain symptoms from sensitive teeth, gargle with a salt water rinse twice daily. To use a salt water rinse:
- Add ½ to ¾ tsp of salt to a glass of lukewarm water and mix well.
- Swish the solution in your mouth for up to 30 seconds.
- Spit out the solution.
- Honey and warm water. Honey is an antibacterial agent, and can be used for wound management. Honey can help to speed healing, and reduce pain,swelling, and inflammation. To reduce pain from sensitive teeth, rinse your mouth with warm water and a spoonful of honey. This rinse will promote oral healing.
- In addition to cooking, turmeric can be used as an anti-inflammatory treatment. Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin known for its anti-inflammatory effects.
- For oral health and to alleviate pain from sensitive teeth, you can massage ground turmeric on the teeth. An alternative is to make a topical paste from 1 tsp turmeric, ½ tsp salt, and ½tsp mustard oil. Apply this paste to the teeth and gums twice a day for pain relief.
- Take a break from bleaching. The quest for pearly whites may cause your pain. Thankfully, sensitivity from bleaching is usually temporary. Talk to your dentist about how the treatment might be affecting you, and whether you should continue it.