Helping with tooth sensitivity at a dentist in Colchester
Have you ever taken a sip of something too hot or cold, or bitten into food and it’s made you wince in pain? That shooting sensation is the pain of tooth sensitivity and is not at all something to take lightly. We at The Dental Studio know just how unpleasant life can get when you have to avoid certain foods and we advise that if you are suffering from sensitivity in your teeth that you come to see your local dentist in Colchester, to consult on these issues to help you get back to a more comfortable way of living. 
Causes and treatments for tooth sensitivity
Please note that sometimes feeling a new pain out of the blue doesn’t necessarily mean it’s tooth sensitivity, it could be a cavity that needs a whole different kind of treatment, so it is important to be properly diagnosed first. Tooth sensitivity which is caused by the complete erosion or thinning of tooth enamel can affect one or all of your teeth. If you’ve been brushing your teeth too hard or have a very hard toothbrush or grind your teeth at night, the hard enamel that covers the sensitive part of your tooth with live nerve endings can lose its structural integrity as it is worn down, causing the pain that you feel. You can also wear down this protective enamel by consuming acidic foods and drinks.
Your dentist in Colchester will be able to discuss a new oral care regime for you that may assist in preventing pain and rebuilding enamel, but in the meantime using a desensitising toothpaste may help, while it won’t treat the problem, it does block the pain of sensitivity after brushing. There are several products available over the counter or at a chemist you can buy to help temporarily manage your pain.
Fluoride – to strengthen the enamel you have left, this product can be applied to your teeth by our dentists, and it helps protect the sensitive area of the tooth.
Bonding – in some cases the enamel may have eroded so far as to have exposed the root of the tooth, if this is the case, a bonding resin can be applied to the area which will close it off and protect it from further damage.
Surgical gum graft – if an area of gum is eroded and exposing the root, opening it up to pain and sensitivity, a different piece of gum taken from somewhere else in the mouth can be fixed to the exposed area, encouraging it all to grow over and fix any problems with sensitivity.
In order to avoid damage to your teeth, you should be gentle when brushing and use a soft toothbrush, you should also avoid acidic drinks and foods. In the case of tooth grinding at night, you can speak to us about a mouth guard or appliance to protect the teeth and depending on the severity of the current state of your teeth, your dentist in Colchester can prescribe a treatment to suit your individual needs.
