Tooth Pain

With more foods consumed cold in summer; tooth pain sometimes roots from either a decay, or a dental abrasion. What can be done? Should you wait it off, or consult a dentist right away? Read on to make your choice.

There is a space called Pulpa inside our teeth that hosts veins and nerves. There is a cavernous layer called dentin, covering it. Nerves extend into the cavernous structure of this layer. In the case of healthy teeth, these nerves do not respond painfully to the changes of heat, because the enamel covers the dentin layer like its armor, protecting the pulpa from external factors. Though, when the enamel gets damaged, a sensitivity to cold ensues.

At this point, we shall discuss how the enamel may become damaged.

TOOTH DECAY:

Your teeth will start to decay after being infested with micro-organisms. As a result, the enamel gets stripped away, exposing the dentin layer to be affected by cold or heat. Decays that form may sometimes be visible to you, but sometimes they may occur in between teeth. You cannot see such decays, but just feel sensitivity to cold and heat.

ENAMEL CRACKS:

They may occur following a trauma, or due to issues like grinding or clenching teeth, causing dental sensitivity. If you consume something hot right after something cold, you may have enamel cracks.

This condition is treated with special, anti-sensitivity toothpastes or anti-sensitivity products that are applied by your dentist.

ACIDIC CORROSION:

We encounter acidic corrosion in two thirds of the patients that visit our clinic. Acid reflux is the new plague. Stomach acid leaking into your mouth due to malnutrition and stress causes abrasion and, consequently, sensitivity, especially on teeth where the enamel is lacking.

Many people do not even realize that they have acid reflux. Apart from an itchy throat and a dry cough, there are sensitivity issues towards lemon while eating salad. It is possible to treat such a sensitivity. Treating reflux is the biggest step of treatment. Though, sometimes it is hard to convince patients that their acid reflux needs to be treated, as they believe that they do not have acid reflux, while being at an utter discomfort due to their dental abrasions. Note that if you sleep on your right side, the abrasion occurs on the teeth on your right, and if you sleep on your left side the abrasion will occur on your teeth to the left.

If you sleep with your face against the bed, the sharp edges of your incisor teeth will be abraded.

Wearing a special apparatus while sleeping; coating the insides of the apparatus with some fluorine gel solves the problem. Anti-sensitivity toothpastes should be used to complement the treatment.

Over-consuming sodas will cause dental abrasion as well. If you cannot help consuming sodas;

* Brushing your teeth right after consumption,

* Rinsing your mouth by passing water through the gaps between your teeth,

* Chewing tooth friendly gums may be your way out.

GRINDING AND CLENCHING TEETH:
 These habits cause abrasions on the sides of your teeth facing gums. This causes sensitivity, as well.

BRUSHING TEETH INCORRECTLY:
 Today, toothpastes include too much bleacher, due to the increased popularity of dental bleaching. Brushing your teeth for too long with these toothpastes causes sensitivity.