Friday, December 3, 2010

Brrr! Tooth Sensitivity to Cold?!


Is it COLD outside yet? Seems like with the Christmas season it brings the cold weather with it! What better to talk about than teeth that are sensitive to cold. We have many patients at Dr. Porter's office here in Charlotte that have sensitivity to different things but cold is one of those that is sometimes hard to pinpoint. Below are some causes and remedies of teeth that are sensitive to cold.

· Brushing to hard or with too much pressure which removes gum tissue.
· Aging
· Using a hard tooth brush instead of a soft one
· Poor oral hygiene which leads to plaque build-up around the teeth and gums. This plaque hardens into tartar and the bacteria that live in plaque cause gum disease and gum recession
· If you have exposed roots, they contain small pores or tubules which lead directly to the nerve of the tooth. Pain, pressure and cold stimuli can travel down the tubules and trigger the tooth nerve causing pain and discomfort
· Tooth whitening procedures or using teeth whitening toothpaste is great for the look of teeth but sometimes can be uncomfortable
· Hypersensitivity
· Cracked teeth
· Grinding your teeth
· Long term use of mouthwashes such as Listerine can damage dentin and cause dentin sensitivity which can reverse the beneficial effects of toothpaste
· Enamel erosion by acidic foods
· Root sensitivity can occur after having your teeth cleaned, following root planning , crown placement, or even having fillings
· People with sensitivities to sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch also usually have sensitive teeth
· Dehydration due to diuretics such as alcohol beverages, caffeine-containing drinks like coffee and Mountain Dew
Call us today if you can't get over your sensitivity! 704-544-5330

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