Causes and Solutions for Sensitive Teeth

Many are familiar with the pain and discomfort associated with sensitive teeth. This oral problem plagues people all around the world, and it can make the simple exercise of enjoying your favorite foods or drinks a challenge. While this challenge might make life difficult, the good news is that this condition is often treatable.

Tooth pain and discomfort normally associated with sensitive teeth issues arise most often when drinking cold liquids, or while eating hot or cold foods. For some, breathing cold air can also trigger pain. If you experience sensitive teeth issues and the pain becomes unbearable, it is important to see your dentist as soon as possible. Extreme pain could be an indication that the nerve ending is exposed.

In most cases, the cause of sensitive teeth results in a receding of the gums, which normally offer a protective barrier for the roots of your teeth. If your gums become problematic, they may recede and leave the roots exposed which increases sensitivity. This occurs because the exposed tips of the root contain small tubules that provide a conduit to the nerve in the root of the tooth and this can trigger the pain and discomfort associated with sensitive teeth. Those with healthy gums will be less likely to experience issues with sensitive teeth because the gums tend to cover these tubules so there is less exposure to the nerves.

Since healthy gums are so important to the prevention of issues with sensitive teeth, it is important to engage in dental hygiene that promotes healthy gums. One of the most common causes of premature gum wear is excessive pressure while brushing. If you use too much force, damage can occur to the edges of your gums, which would normally protect the roots from exposure. It is important to brush thoroughly but gently to prevent the tearing of your gums.

Your brushing technique is not the only thing related to your brushing that can have an impact on sensitive teeth. You can also utilize a specialty toothpaste formulated with potassium nitrate, which may help with pain and discomfort for sensitive teeth.

If you practice gentle brushing and utilize a toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth and your sensitive teeth issues persist, you should schedule an appointment to see come in to Pearland Dentist for an exam.

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Wisdom Teeth Removal

Any time between the ages of 17 to 25, people will notice that their last set of teeth will begin to form toward the back of the mouth and these molars are known as wisdom teeth. Often, these teeth are considered for removal, a topic that can be controversial for many. While wisdom teeth do not pose any inherent danger, they can cause pain or discomfort in some people and for those cases, removal should be considered. In other cases, wisdom teeth function just like normal teeth and do not cause any issues.

There are sometimes complications, which arise as wisdom teeth develop. One of the most common problems occurs when the teeth become impacted. In this situation, the normal procedure is to have them removed, and this can sometimes be accomplished by pulling them, but in other cases, the teeth must be removed by an oral surgeon. If you are a candidate for the removal of your wisdom teeth, a consultation with an oral surgeon will be required.

Consultations for surgical wisdom teeth removal will typically involve a physical exam of your mouth along with x-rays that will tell the oral surgeon everything necessary to facilitate the removal. Once the surgeon has all the necessary information, you will be advised of your options. One of the decisions you will need to make is whether to go under sedation or to undergo surgery with a local anesthesia. With sedation, you will be asleep during the procedure and will have no awareness of what is happening, but under a local anesthesia, you will remain conscious. The local anesthesia produces a numbing of the mouth and gums so you will not feel any pain but you will be fully aware of what is happening.

The process of removing wisdom teeth can sometimes be easy for the surgeon, but in other cases, the effort can be complicated by the size, shape and formation of the teeth. In some cases, the roots of the wisdom teeth are bound to the jawbone in a way that makes them difficult to remove. In either case there will be some pain related to the surgery afterwards, but there should be very little swelling if any. You will be prescribed medication for post-surgery pain management and if you had IV sedation you will not be able to drive yourself home so arrangements will have to be made for your transportation after the surgery.

The healing process is something that will be discussed with your dentist and it is important to follow any written or verbal instructions you receive so that the healing process will go quickly. For the first 24 hours it is best if you are not left alone due to the anesthesia, and your diet will be restricted in order to avoid damage to any of the surgical wounds.

While the removal of your wisdom teeth is a more involved procedure than typical dental visits, it is a very worthwhile procedure for many people as it can eliminate painful problems associated with impacted teeth, or with teeth and gum problems associated with the improper development of your wisdom teeth.

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