Seven Remedies for Sensitive Teeth

Do you suffer from tooth sensitivity? Many of the patients that visit our clinics express discomfort related to temperature sensitivity. Whether your teeth are sensitive to hot, cold, acids, sugars, brushing or flossing, you don’t have to suffer. Below we’ve compiled some causes of sensitive teeth along with ways to prevent and treat sensitive teeth.

What causes tooth sensitivity?

Tooth sensitivity is a common dental problem that can develop over time. It starts to happen when the softer, inner part of the tooth called the dentin becomes exposed. Dentin lies under the enamel and the gums. Other factors that cause sensitive teeth include:

  • Tooth decay/cavities
  • Fractured, cracked or chipped teeth
  • Worn fillings or enamel
  • Gum disease or infection
  • Exposed tooth root
  • Bruised tooth nerves from a recent procedure (temporary)
  • Over-brushing
  • Teeth grinding
  • Acidic foods

Preventing and treating tooth sensitivity

The first step to help cure dental sensitivity is to find out what the cause is. Our dental professionals can help you with this. If the sensitivity is due to exposed dentin, there are a number of steps you can take to help reduce the sensitivity. Here are seven tooth sensitivity treatments to try.

  1. Salt water rinses: To alleviate pain symptoms from sensitive teeth, gargle with a salt water rinse twice daily.
  2. Change your toothbrush/toothpaste: Hard bristle toothbrushes or abrasive toothpastes can aggravate sensitive teeth. By switching to a soft-bristled toothbrush and using a toothpaste specifically for sensitivity like Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening, this will reduce pain.
  3. Honey and warm water. You probably weren’t aware that honey is an antibacterial agent and can be used for wound management, pain reduction, swelling and inflammation. To reduce pain from sensitive teeth, rinse your mouth with warm water and a spoonful of honey.
  4. Turmeric: Turmeric is commonly known to be an anti-inflammatory treatment. For oral health treatment and to alleviate pain from sensitive teeth, you can massage ground turmeric on the teeth, or create a turmeric paste and apply to your teeth twice daily.
  5. Green tea: For sensitive teeth, use unsweetened green tea as a mouthwash twice a day to strengthen teeth and reduce swelling.
  6. Vanilla extract: To treat sensitive teeth, pour vanilla extract onto a cotton ball. Apply the cotton ball to your gums for a few minutes, and repeat the process as often as needed.
  7. Purchase a mouth guard: If you are suffering from sensitive teeth because of teeth grinding (also known as bruxism) your dentist can make a model of your teeth and use this to produce a mouth guard that you can wear during the night.

Don’t let your sensitive teeth take the joy out of simple pleasures in life. Talk to your dentist. You don’t have to suffer – there are ways to overcome this issue.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

Nine Simple Tips to Prevent Tooth Decay

Fact:  Our mouths are full of bacteria. In fact, hundreds of different types of bacteria live on our teeth, gums, tongue and other places in our mouths. That is what causes tooth decay. The bacteria feeds on the sugars in the foods and drinks we consume, leaving behind a  sticky bio-film also known as plaque. This plaque allows bacteria to live on your teeth longer, giving it time to create acids which wear down the tooth enamel and cause cavities.

If left untreated, the eventual disease process that starts from bacteria in the mouth can potentially spread to other areas of the body. This bacteria can complicate chronic conditions ranging from diabetes to heart disease.

What causes tooth decay?

Tooth decay is typically a result of diet and oral hygiene choices. The two primary reasons why teeth decay are:

  • Consuming foods high in sugar content allows more bacteria to form and thrive
  • Eating foods with too much acid such as soda pop, wine, and citrus fruits. Too much exposure to acids causes your tooth enamel to break down, resulting in white spots which is an early form of enamel erosion or tooth decay.

Here are nine simple tips you can implement to prevent tooth decay:

  1. Brush your teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste such as Crest, Colgate, Oral B or Arm and Hammer
  2. Drink lots of water to increase salivary production
  3. Floss your teeth once a day or use an interdental cleaning tool (a small angled brush that fits between teeth with wider spacing)
  4. Limit or avoid avoid sugary snacks and beverages of any type as these expose your teeth to constant bacteria and increase the production of acid
  5. Limit starches in your diet because they also create an acid environment in your mouth
  6. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Tips on a balanced diet can be found on Canada’s Food Guide website.
  7. Visit your dentist at least twice per year for a cleanings, exams and x-rays (if necessary)
  8. Use a supplemental fluoride rinse, gel or varnish, or a high fluoride prescription toothpaste, to further strengthen your teeth. If you drink a lot of bottled water, for instance, you may not be getting enough fluoride.
  9. Use temporary dental sealants on the back teeth chewing surfaces. This may help to protect them from developing cavities. Ask your dentist if sealants make sense for you.

How to prevent tooth decay?

It’s easy! Simply limit sugary and starchy foods between meals, brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, floss at least once a day, and visit any of our locations for regular check-ups and cleanings.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

Is Fluoride Necessary For Children?

Keeping your child’s teeth healthy means more than just daily brushing, it consists of developing a proper oral regime including, brushing, proper oral health techniques and regular visits to the dentist. At these visits, your dentist will talk about your child’s teeth, brushing and how much water they drink. Your child’s water intake is important as tap water contains fluoride which plays an important role in healthy tooth development and cavity prevention.

When should you start brushing your child’s teeth?

You should start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as their first tooth develops. However, you should start cleaning their gums with a soft cloth within the first few weeks of their birth. Once those first teeth start coming through the gums, begin brushing them with a soft brush and a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste (about the size of a grain of rice). Once your child becomes better at spitting (which happens around age three or four), use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste making sure they spit rather than swallow the toothpaste. The American Dental Association notes that parents should not recommend that their kids use a fluoride toothpaste until age two and fluoride mouthwash until age six. It’s important to monitor your children until the ages about five or six to ensure they have the oral regime down pat.

Why is fluoride important?

Fluoride protects teeth by making your child’s teeth stronger and more resistant to acid. In fact, according to Colgate and the Centers for Disease Control, it reports that water fluoridation can reduce tooth decay in children by 18 and 40 per cent. It not only reduces the risk of cavities, it can even help reverse early signs of decay.

When should you start taking your child to the dentist?

The first visit to the dentist should be around your child’s first birthday. This early start is important for you and your child to begin good habits and develop a positive relationship with your dentist. Remember, if your baby has teeth, they can get cavities.

Something to be aware of with fluoride:

Because fluoride is found naturally in water, some soils and foods, it’s important to not give/expose your children to too much fluoride as it can cause ailments such as dental fluorosis (white specks or streaks in the teeth due to over exposure to fluoride), and more severe health issues like bone disease (skeletal fluorosis), thyroid and  neurological problems.

Using fluoride for children is an effective way to make sure your little ones have the healthiest smiles possible. To find out more about whether your child is getting the right levels of fluoride, talk to your family dentist about your child’s tooth care routine.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

When Are Antibiotics Recommended for a Tooth Infection?

If you have a tooth infection, seeing a dentist as soon as possible is important to prevent any sort of infection from spreading. Your dentist will likely prescribe an antibiotic to help kill the bacteria causing your tooth infection. The good news is that if the infection is caught early enough it can be treated.

Read on to learn more about when you should use antibiotics to treat tooth infections.

What is a tooth infection?

A tooth infection is an infection at the root of the tooth between the jaw and gum line. The swelling can be extremely painful and often unbearable, especially if the infection affects the pulp which forms part of the tooth and has important nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. If the infection gets worse, it can spread into your brain causing much more damage.

What are some of the symptoms of an infected tooth?

  • Gnawing or throbbing toothache
  • Pain when eating
  • Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold
  • Sensitivity to pressure
  • Bitter taste in the mouth
  • Bad breath
  • Swollen neck glands
  • Swelling in the gums
  • Swelling in the jaw
  • Fever

What are some recommended antibiotics for a tooth infection?

The type of antibiotic you’ll need depends on the type of bacteria causing the infection. Different classes of antibiotics have different ways of attacking bacteria. Your dentist will want to choose an antibiotic that can effectively eliminate your infection. Antibiotics such as penicillin and amoxicillin are most commonly used to help treat tooth infections. If you’re allergic to penicillin (which some people are) be sure to tell your dentist. Erythromycin is an alternative to penicillin and can be prescribed in its place. Information about dosage and how to take the medication will be given to you by your local pharmacist; however you’ll typically need to take antibiotics for about a week.

What are some natural remedies for a tooth infection?

If you have an allergic reaction to penicillin or are looking for holistic ways to treat infections – here’s a list that may be beneficial. Just to be clear, these natural remedies may deter the infection from spreading, but you should always consult your dentist right away just to be safe.

Some natural remedies include:

  • Salt water rinse: rinsing your mouth with salt water promotes wound healing, healthy gums and is an affordable alternative to seeing the dentist
  • Baking soda: great for removing excess plaque, it also has antibacterial properties
  • Oregano, clove and/or thyme oil: known to be antibacterial and anti-oxidizing, these oils all contain anti-inflammatory properties to help relieve pain
  • Cold compress packs: reduce swelling and numbs the pain
  • Garlic: rubbing a clove of garlic on the infected area will reduce the pain and kill bacteria

If you’re having symptoms of a tooth infection, such as persistent throbbing pain, swelling and sensitivity to temperature or pressure, see a doctor or dentist as soon as possible. If your dentist prescribes antibiotics, follow the instructions carefully and finish the prescription. Even if the infection seems mild, it can quickly become serious without proper treatment.