Why does teeth become sensitive?

 Have you ever experienced a sharp pain in your teeth? 

At present day, Tooth sensitivity is a common dental problem faced by huge millions of people.

What is Sensitive Teeth?

Sensitive Teeth is a discomfort or a sharp pain in teeth.

Generally, people with Sensitive teeth will feel the sensitivity and experience the pain while drinking or eating something cold or hot (eg. tea, ice cream). For some people, breathing cold air, having sweet foods and acidic drinks(citrus fruits, sodas) can also trigger the pain causing sensitive teeth.

To better understand the concept of sensitive teeth, it is important to know about our teeth structure.


The outer white part of the tooth is called enamel. It is the hardest substance which protects the teeth from tooth sensitivity and damage.

Then, the underlying layer is called dentin. Enamel overlays the dentin and protects our teeth from damage. If the protective outer enamel wears away or decays, this underlying dentin will be directly exposed to the hot and the cold food we eat and makes one's tooth sensitive. This happens because the nerves inside the tooth are sensitive to temperature. On the whole, if the protective white enamel wears away, the yellow dentin and the whole tooth will become exposed to the risk of sensitivity.

What causes Sensitive Teeth?

According to dental experts, numerous factors contributes to sensitive teeth. Brushing teeth too hard, using hard-bristled brushes, tooth decay, gum disease, teeth whitening products, grinding teeth, receding gums, tooth bleaching, filling, cracked tooth and plaque buildup can wears down the enamel and cause tooth sensitivity.

Steps to reduce teeth sensitivity

Oral hygiene is the first step. Do regular brushing with soft-bristled brush. Use fluoridated toothpaste made for sensitive teeth consulting your dental team.
Second, avoid highly acidic, sugary foods and drinks like soft drinks and oranges. Instead, opt milk and go for fruits like banana which are less acidic to reduce the pain and damage.
Then, do regular flossing and rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash to maintain oral health. Go for regular dental check up as suggested by your dentist.

General guidelines to prevent sensitive teeth

Use proper tooth brushing technique to maintain Good oral health. Choose fluoridated products to clean your teeth. Gently brush the teeth using soft bristled brush to protect the enamel of the teeth. Regularly brush, floss and rinse the teeth to maintain oral hygiene. Change your toothbrush every two to three months.

Avoid using excessive force during tooth brushing in order to prevent tooth abrasion and gum recession. Brushing too hard can wears away the enamel of the teeth so be gentle to your teeth while brushing.
Avoid taking acidic drinks in many sips. Use straw to drink citrus juice and other acidic drinks. Flush the teeth with care after consuming highly acidic foods and drinks.

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Teeth plays a key role in our daily lives. Do you care about priceless teeth which gives you beautiful smile? Regular dental check up is the perfect gift you can give for your teeth's oral hygiene and good health.