Why is my tooth sensitive ?

TOOTH SENSITIVITY / DENTINAL HYPERSENSITIVITY

DENTINAL SENSITIVITY is dental pain which is sharp in character and of short duration, arising from exposed dentin surfaces in response to stimuli, typically thermal, evaporation, tactile, osmotic, chemical or electrical; and which cannot be ascribed to any other dental disease.

SYMPTOMS

Thermal – hot and cold drinks and foods, cold air, coolant water jet from a dental instrument.

Electrical – electric pulp testers

Mechanical–tactile – dental probe during dental examination, periodontal scaling and root planing,tooth brushing

Osmotic – hypertonic solutions such as sugars

Evaporation – air blast from a dental instrument

Chemical – acids, e.g. dietary, gastric, acid etch during dental treatment

CAUSES

The most common cause - Gingival Recession  ( receding gums )

- Tooth Wear

- Wrong Brushing Habits

- Abrasive tooth paste

LESS COMMON CAUSES - 

- Acid erosion (e.g. related to gastroesophageal reflux disease

- Bulimia or excessive consumption of acidic foods and drinks

- Periodontal root planing

- Dental bleaching 

- Tooth whitening tooth paste

- Decay around the edges of a filling

- Tooth sensitivity after dental visit

- Plaque deposition

- Alcohol containing mouthwash

TREATMENT

= Desensitizing tooth paste

= Correct the brushing technique - avoid horizontal method of brushing

= Use a soft bristle brush and brush for 2 minutes with gentle pressure

= Limit acidic foods or try to drink water having acidic food items to neutralize the acid in your mouth.

= Cover exposed root surface using dentin adhesive sealers with the help of a dentist

= Root canal treatment

= Laser treatment - low output lasers , Nd YAG ,Er YAG CAN BE USED TO TREAT 

SENSITIVITY but It is the most expensive method .