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Sensitive, Tender Teeth? Know the Culprits and the Treatment

Are your teeth tender? From acidic foods to even too much mouthwash - there are many things which are to be blamed

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Tooth sensitivity can be a real pain in the... well, mouth. Sometimes teeth are just touchy but if the very thought of having hot chai or a cold ice cream makes you cringe, you’re not alone.

Chew on this: 1 in 10 Indians might suffer from regular pain brought on by sensitive teeth, and dentists say that women are almost twice as likely to have that condition than men.

You can listen to your story here:

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The first sign of any mouth issue is bad breath or a wonky taste. Mumbai-based dentist, Dr Jyoti Pradhan says, bleeding gums can also signal poor dental health.

Many people spit out blood for years and don’t give a damn till it translates into something serious. If they bled from their arms or legs, would their reaction be the same?
Dr Jyoti Pradhan, Dentist

If you’ve got bad teeth, here’s adding insult to injury - having bad teeth may predispose you to a bad heart and even raise your risk of certain cancers. Yes, there’s a growing body of evidence which proves that oral health holds clues to your overall health.

Are your teeth tender? From acidic foods to even too much mouthwash - there are many things which are to be blamed.
Take care of all dental issues, because teeth will always be in style! (Photo courtesy: Tumblr/ Poor Living Blog)

So scroll below and check out this guide on how to take care of your sensitive teeth.

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Biggest Causes of Sensitivity

Any kind of sensitivity is bad but experts say the least alarming is the short-lived, cold sensitivity which comes once in a while but if the pain is persistent and confined to a certain tooth area, that might be a signal of a micro-crack, a degraded filling or a cavity. And God forbid, if your teeth are also sensitive to heat and biting pressure simultaneously, you need a doctor’s attention because there could be some sort of a tooth infection.

Are your teeth tender? From acidic foods to even too much mouthwash - there are many things which are to be blamed.
An exposed nerve, an abscessed tooth or a gum disease might make you vulnerable to acute stab of pain (Photo: The Quint)

What You Should Do

Stop being a mouthwash junkie. If you love the minty fresh breath a bit too much and keep swigging mouthwash throughout the day, you are setting up yourself for a sore mouth. Mouth cleansers have acids that make sensitive teeth only worse.

Are your teeth tender? From acidic foods to even too much mouthwash - there are many things which are to be blamed.
(Photo courtesy: Tumblr/@caretorecycle)

Use a soft toothbrush and a toothpaste medically designed for sensitive teeth. Now these toothpastes don’t work for everybody but it’s the best place to start.

Change the way you brush: You don’t have to vigorously scrub your teeth, that will wear off the enamel even faster. Go soft and easy on your pearly whites, after all, they need to serve you for a lifetime.

Stop grinding your teeth. You don’t realise but grinding your teeth can wear down the enamel and expose the dentin, which contains the hollow tubes that lead to your nerves, causing sensitivity. If grinding is a medical issue, then discuss with your doctor about finding a custom fit mouth guard that can stop you from grinding.

Ditch all acidic food and drinks: So no red wine, sodas, citrus fruits or sugary delights but if you really need to have a drink or two to feel alive, use a straw to minimise the exposure to acids.

Swish with warm water 20 minutes after eating food.

And if nothing helps, keep calm and call a dentist.

Related Read: Bet You Won’t Forget to Brush Tonight After This

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Tooth sensitivity can be a real pain in the... well, mouth. Sometimes teeth are just touchy but if the very thought of having hot chai or a cold ice cream makes you cringe, you’re not alone.

Chew on this: 1 in 10 Indians might suffer from regular pain brought on by sensitive teeth, and dentists say that women are almost twice as likely to have that condition than men.

Are your teeth tender? From acidic foods to even too much mouthwash - there are many things which are to be blamed
(Photo: The Quint)

The first sign of any mouth issue is bad breath or a wonky taste. Mumbai-based dentist, Dr Jyoti Pradhan says, bleeding gums can also signal poor dental health.

Many people spit out blood for years and don’t give a damn till it translates into something serious. If they bled from their arms or legs, would their reaction be the same?

Dr Jyoti Pradhan, Dentist

You can listen to your story here:

If you’ve got bad teeth, here’s adding insult to injury - having bad teeth may predispose you to a bad heart and even raise your risk of certain cancers. Yes, there’s a growing body of evidence which proves that oral health holds clues to your overall health.

Are your teeth tender? From acidic foods to even too much mouthwash - there are many things which are to be blamed
Take care of all dental issues, because teeth will always be in style! (Photo courtesy: Tumblr/ Poor Living Blog)

So scroll below and check out this guide on how to take care of your sensitive teeth.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Biggest Causes of Sensitivity

Any kind of sensitivity is bad but experts say the least alarming is the short-lived, cold sensitivity which comes once in a while but if the pain is persistent and confined to a certain tooth area, that might be a signal of a micro-crack, a degraded filling or a cavity. And God forbid, if your teeth are also sensitive to heat and biting pressure simultaneously, you need a doctor’s attention because there could be some sort of a tooth infection.

Are your teeth tender? From acidic foods to even too much mouthwash - there are many things which are to be blamed
An exposed nerve, an abscessed tooth or a gum disease might make you vulnerable to acute stab of pain (Photo: The Quint)

What You Should Do

Stop being a mouthwash junkie. If you love the minty fresh breath a bit too much and keep swigging mouthwash throughout the day, you are setting up yourself for a sore mouth. Mouth cleansers have acids that make sensitive teeth only worse.

Are your teeth tender? From acidic foods to even too much mouthwash - there are many things which are to be blamed
(Photo courtesy: Tumblr/@caretorecycle)

Use a soft toothbrush and a toothpaste medically designed for sensitive teeth. Now these toothpastes don’t work for everybody but it’s the best place to start.

Change the way you brush: You don’t have to vigorously scrub your teeth, that will wear off the enamel even faster. Go soft and easy on your pearly whites, after all, they need to serve you for a lifetime.

Stop grinding your teeth. You don’t realise but grinding your teeth can wear down the enamel and expose the dentin, which contains the hollow tubes that lead to your nerves, causing sensitivity. If grinding is a medical issue, then discuss with your doctor about finding a custom fit mouth guard that can stop you from grinding.

Ditch all acidic food and drinks: So no red wine, sodas, citrus fruits or sugary delights but if you really need to have a drink or two to feel alive, use a straw to minimise the exposure to acids.

Swish with warm water 20 minutes after eating food.

And if nothing helps, keep calm and call a dentist.

Related Read: Bet You Won’t Forget to Brush Tonight After This

(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

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Topics:  Tooth Decay   Dental Health 

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