Have you ever eaten a bowl of cold ice cream and suddenly experienced excruciating tooth pain? Do you experience regular tooth pain with your morning cup of coffee? Perhaps you only feel tooth pain when you eat a piece of deliciously sweet cake with buttercream frosting. Each of these three things may cause pain if you have sensitive teeth. Heat, cold and sweets are the three most common things that can make your sensitive teeth hurt. However, you may also experience pain if something touches a specific part of your tooth or if air blows against the tooth. The best place to start when treating this pain is to find out what the root cause of it is. Dr. Wendy Willoughby, DDS and her team in Asheville, NC can help!
The most common reason for sensitive teeth is a wearing down of the enamel covering. This could occur with excessively hard brushing, grinding of the teeth, excessive eating of acidic or sugary foods or the use of abrasive tooth whitening kits. You may also notice sensitivity if your gums have receded due to periodontal disease, leaving behind tooth enamel that was once protected by the gums. Periodontal disease can be a result of poor oral hygiene and may be related to genetic factors as well. Of course, the gums naturally shrink as you age. After the age of 40, your gums naturally begin receding towards your teeth’s roots.
Another reason for tooth sensitivity, especially in areas other than at the base of teeth, is that you have a cracked tooth. A crack in the enamel can let irritants get down to the nerve fiber-rich dentin or even the root of the tooth, which can cause severe pain.
If you suffer from any of these issues, Dr. Wendy Willoughby, DDS can treat your sensitive teeth in Asheville, NC at Chestnut Family Dentistry. She is a general dentist who also specializes in preventative and restorative dentistry. She has a certification from the International Dental Implant Association, as well as certifications in laser dentistry and computerized dentistry. She is also a member of the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry.
Dr. Willoughby has many options to help you with your sensitive teeth depending on what the root cause is. For example, if it is caused by a cracked tooth or a cavity, filling the area may eliminate the irritating symptoms. If sensitivity is caused by worn enamel, she may begin by recommending a fluoride treatment or a prescription toothpaste that will gradually lessen and eliminate the sensitivity with regular use.
Rest assured that you will receive kind, compassionate care for you sensitive teeth at Chestnut Family Dentistry in Asheville, NC. We know that you do not want to live with pain, and we will work quickly to determine the cause of and a solution for your discomfort. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and get started.
