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5 Reasons You Have Sensitive Teeth

by Andre Daniels

Living with teeth that are overly sensitive can be a challenge. You may need to be mindful of all the foods you eat and liquids you drink each day to avoid discomfort. However, you may be capable of limiting the amount of sensitivity you have by doing or not doing specific things. It's ideal to know the reasons that cause sensitive teeth to help better you avoid dental discomfort.

Reason #1: You brush too hard

It's important to brush your teeth daily and for the right amount of time. However, you don't want to apply too much pressure to the toothbrush when doing so because this could wear down the enamel of your teeth over time.

Reason #2: You grind your teeth

Grinding your teeth at night can cause sensitivity. This is also called bruxism and can wear the dentin of your teeth down, and this can cause your teeth to be more sensitive. You should consider asking your dentist for a mouth guard for you to wear at night to help prevent this.

Reason #3: You eat acidic foods

Eating foods that are high in acid is one of the leading reasons you have teeth that are extremely sensitive.  Foods that you should avoid if you have tender teeth are tomato, grapefruits, lemon and many others.

Reason #4: You use mouthwash too much

Rinsing your mouth with mouthwash may give you a clean and fresh feeling, but you will want to avoid doing this too often. There are chemicals and even a small amount of alcohol in mouthwash that could lead to reducing tooth enamel.

Reason #5: You have a cracked tooth

It's possible to have a dental problem and not even be aware that you have it. For instance, broken tooth or decay around a loose filling can cause sensitivity. If this suddenly occurs, you should visit your dentist for a thorough dental evaluation to rule both of these out for better long-term dental health.

Both of these dental conditions can be fixed if treated promptly before significant damage occurs that may result in the loss of the tooth.

Knowing effective ways to minimize a number of teeth sensitivity issues you deal with on a daily basis can be helpful to minimize your discomfort in this area. Be sure to discuss additional tips with your family dentist (like Thomas E Rider, DDS and Allison S Reese, DDS) that can greatly assist you in your battle against sensitivity for optimal results.

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