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Sometimes, it feels great to enjoy cold drinks or food in summer. But if you have your tooth sensitivity to cold then it would be a big obstacle in your love for cold food or drinks. People who have teeth sensitive to cold would face many discomforts or painful experiences by contacting with coldness, may it be food or drink.
In case you have your Tooth sensitive to cold, you will not get to enjoy popsicles and ice creams on a summer night. To get out of these problems all you can do is find the causes and treatment of tooth sensitivity to cold.
If you’re someone looking for causes and treatments for tooth sensitivity to colds, then this article will definitely help.
Some of the Most Visible Unpleasant Symptoms of Tooth Sensitivity to Cold
Discomfort and pain after eating cold stuff are one of the most noticeable symptoms of tooth sensitivity. The intensity of pain or discomfort after coming into contact with cold foods is not fixed, it may be mild, moderate, or severe varying from person to person.
You may also feel a painful sensation after brushing and flossing your teeth. This type of pain is a sign that you need to start treatments for your tooth sensitivity, as it could be derogatory to your dental hygiene. Also, such pain while brushing would not fail to host many gum diseases and cavities that may result in tooth loss or tooth decay.
Sometimes tooth sensitivity to cold may not be visible at the early stage or you may not take it seriously. But in case you feel any discomfort towards cold foods then checking with your doctor is mandatory. Tooth sensitivity could also happen with extremely hot food as well, then also you have to talk to an expert.
As such tooth problems could give birth to many diseases affecting your oral health and hygiene. A dental check-up to find out appropriate treatments and cures for a tooth’s sensitivity to cold issues are important.
Causes of teeth sensitivity:
1. Aggressive or Forceful Brushing
Sometimes forceful brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush would result in tooth sensitivity. As such action would result in wearing down of your tooth enamel, which is a big sign of pain and discomfort as the enamel works as a shield for the inner teeth layers. Once tooth enamel is worn off your dentin will be visible, which is the second tooth layer after enamel.
With this condition of your tooth, you will have to face many painful sensations or difficulties after eating or drinking cold foods and drinks, as it will affect the nerve endings present in dentin.
2. Acidic Foods
Exposing nerve endings would definitely result in tooth sensitivity to cold symptoms. Having an excess amount of acidic foods could also cause your tooth enamel and dentin to wear off. This condition will expose your nerve endings that could be easily sensitive to cold or hot foods or drinks. Again, acidic foods coming in contact with nerve endings would be another big reason for tooth sensitivity to cold. Some of these acidic foods are the following:
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Kiwi
- Grapefruit
Make a note that if you have tooth sensitivity to cold or hot foods, then you must limit your intake of acidic foods.
3. Gum Disease
Dental hygiene is extremely vital for avoiding gum diseases that could also show sensitivity to cold foods. Brushing and flossing your teeth would maintain the cleanliness of your oral health, preventing any oral health problems.
Receding gum is a notable cause of tooth sensitivity to cold as it directly shows off your nerve endings.
Also, plaque forming on your gums or teeth would cause inflammation of the gum line (gums) and this condition would lead to many gum diseases, increasing the chance of tooth sensitivity to cold symptoms.
4. Whitening Toothpaste
No doubt! Teeth whitening toothpaste claims to bring that white shiny and bright teeth smile to your face but should be ready for the side effects that the whitening agents may cause. Yes, these whitening agents may sometimes react as these are chemicals. Hence, tooth sensitivity could be an outcome that you could expect after using tooth whitening products.
It’s not true that every product claiming tooth whitening is reactive, but many of them would be. So be aware of alcohol-rich mouthwashes and whitening products for avoiding chemical reactions.
5. Grinding Teeth
Sometimes, you grind your teeth while sleeping, this could cause your dentin to be exposed due to the tearing down of the enamel. If not treated initially, tooth sensitivity to cold foods or drinks would be an expected problem for your oral health1.
6. Cavities
Cavities not treated for a long time could be a huge cause of tooth sensitivity. Hence, when you eat cold foods then you will feel sensitivity or pain because of exposure to nerve endings.
Treatments For Tooth Sensitivity
1. Dietary Changes
A perfect diet would help in treating tooth sensitivity and other discomforts. For eliminating tooth sensitivity you must eradicate the addition of acidic foods that would worsen your sensitivity symptoms.
Acidic foods could also be a reason behind the weakening enamel of your tooth. Besides, following a good diet that includes healthy food and soft food should definitely help prevail sensitivity symptoms and get good oral health.
2. Fluoride treatment
Fluoride treatment would be really good to improve and provide strength to your tooth enamel. In case you visit a dentist, your dentist would definitely recommend fluoride treatment to get over the tooth sensitivity issues. Your dentist may also prescribe or suggest you fluoride 2rinse and toothpaste for improved teeth strength.
3. Proper Brushing And Flossing Habits
You need to maintain healthier brushing and flossing habits to cure this tooth sensitivity problem. Changing your aggressive brushing style and your hard bristle toothbrush would help in reducing the symptoms of tooth sensitivity to cold problems.
You should also try changing your toothbrush at a specific interval as per requirement. In case you see slight blood coming out of your gums then note that you are brushing vigorously. You need to follow the perfect motion and movement of brushing for a healthy way of brushing.
Read more about Tooth sensitivity relief by two mouth rinses published by the U.S National Library Of Medicine.
4. Dental Hygiene
Sometimes, you may have to do many dental procedures as part of your oral hygiene or for treating any periodontal or gum disease. Good dental hygiene will act as a protective shield for preventing tooth sensitivity, periodontal diseases, or any pain related to gums and teeth.
In some cases, gum recession would also destroy your oral hygiene and would cause tooth sensitivity to cold symptoms. To avoid every such possible oral health disorder, you must keep your mouth free from bacteria by properly cleaning and eating good food.
You could also have a word with your dentist for more recommendations about oral hygiene. There are many dental procedures and dental products available to help you maintain your oral hygiene well.
5. Wearing A Mouthguard
Teeth grinding while sleeping is another cause of tooth’s sensitivity to cold or hot foods, as due to grinding your teeth the enamel is worn off and the dentin becomes visible. Here, you may have to check with your dentist if you can wear a mouth guard for preventing grinding and tooth sensitivity.
The symptoms of teeth grinding are face pain, jaw stiffness, earaches, and headaches. If any of these symptoms are felt by you, realize that it’s time to book an appointment with your doctor for protecting your gums and hence, prevent sensitivity.
6. Dental Procedures
There are many dental procedures that will treat various diseases related to gums and teeth. In some cases, dental procedures could increase the sensitivity of teeth, but your doctor will help you find a correct dental procedure for preventing tooth sensitivity. For example, a special resin application will treat your nerve ending that is visible by covering them up.
A surgical graft3 (or gum graft) would also give good protection to your roots and prevent damage. Sometimes, cavities are the main cause of tooth sensitivity to cold symptoms, for this, your dentist may recommend filling the cavities. Root canals would also be a dental procedure to help sensitive teeth by removing infections or deep cavities inside your mouth.
7. Say No To Hard Foods
Once you start showing tooth sensitivity symptoms, it’s not recommended to chew or eat hard foods. Eating hard food would alleviate your pain and discomfort with the sensitivity of your teeth. You should rather try eating or drinking soft and healthy food.
You should also not chew raw vegetables directly, as they need a lot of effort by your teeth and gums. Rather plan your diet with some tasty yet healthy soups or any other soft food for your mouth.
Footnote:
To find a way to get out of this tooth sensitivity to cold or hot foods problem, develop proper dental care habits. There are many causes of such sensitivity and their treatments are also effective, but prevention is always better than cure. Try to maintain your oral health condition to save both time and money, as well as prevent any discomfort to your teeth.
You need to be careful with your teeth and gums if you love your bright smile and health. Go ahead! Get a brief knowledge about tooth sensitivity and try out these astounding treatments for teeth sensitive to hot or cold.
Frequently asked questions:
- Yes, In some cases, teeth sensitivity goes away on its own — especially if it’s due to a recent dental procedure, such as a filling or root canal. If you have teeth sensitivity that lingers and doesn’t go away, talk to a dentist. You might have worn enamel or exposed teeth roots.
- Coconut oil has many health benefits. It is also useful in improving oral health, as well as helping with sensitive teeth. The process is simple: swish coconut oil around in your mouth for a short time every day. Oil cuts through plaque removes bacteria and toxins from the gums, and fights off cavities.
- Vitamin B deficiencies can cause toothaches, receding gums and overall sensitivity of the mucous membranes in the mouth. Vitamin B complex supplements are best taken under the tongue for optimal absorption. Food sources of the B vitamins include mushrooms, meat and fish.
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Proofreaded by:
Dr. Foram Bhuta
Dentist (B.D.S)
- Northridge, Mary E., Anjali Kumar, and Raghbir Kaur. “Disparities in access to oral health care.” Annual review of public health 41 (2020): 513-535. ↩︎
- Srivastava, Sakshi, and S. J. S. Flora. “Fluoride in drinking water and skeletal fluorosis: a review of the global impact.” Current environmental health reports 7 (2020): 140-146. ↩︎
- Caliskan, Etem, et al. “Saphenous vein grafts in contemporary coronary artery bypass graft surgery.” Nature Reviews Cardiology 17.3 (2020): 155-169. ↩︎
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