sensitivity – Tampa Smiles

05/Nov/2024

When cold air hits your teeth, you may experience cold weather tooth sensitivity that is just a mild discomfort or it could hit you like an electric bolt that makes you shudder. Just as if you are eating ice cream and get a sudden sharp pain, frigid temperatures can cause the same reaction. Teeth are porous and not immune to extreme temperatures. Cold air breathed in through your mouth can cause the teeth to contract. Once you close your mouth, your teeth will expand again. This contraction and expansion of the teeth can cause tiny hairline fractures in your teeth. You may be completely unaware they are even there until you breathe in an arctic blast and get a sudden surge of pain. Also, people may clench their jaw when they are cold. This can contribute to tooth discomfort and cause jaw pain.

5 Steps to Alleviate Cold Weather Tooth Sensitivity

Breathe through your nose. Once you close your mouth, cover your teeth with your lips and get your saliva circulating, your pain should subside quickly.
Don’t clench your teeth. Be mindful of tensing up to stay warm. This can cause tooth erosion and increased sensitivity.
Don’t brush too hard. Brushing too hard on a regular basis can cause your gums to recede and expose the roots of your teeth. Exposed roots are more sensitive to temperature changes.
Practice proper oral hygiene. Make sure you are brushing and flossing every day. Choose and soft bristled toothbrush and brush gently. Flossing also stimulates your gums, prevents them from receding and keeps them healthy. Rinsing with mouthwash is also a great way to ward off sensitivity. It can create a seal over the sensitive areas of your teeth.
Get regular dental checkups. Visiting your dentist every 6 months will help stay on top of any dental problems that may be developing. Most insurance companies cover dental check-ups twice a year. Finding any problems with your teeth early keeps you from having to go through more extensive treatment and more tooth sensitivity.

If you feel that your sensitivity is lasting longer than it should, there could be an underlying problem that needs to be evaluated. Contact South Tampa Smiles at (813) 289 – 0560 if you are experiencing cold weather tooth sensitivity and need to make an appointment for an evaluation. We are here to help.
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Hypersensitive Teeth

Chewing Ice Can Damage Your Teeth

Proper Brushing Techniques

Dr. Cannariato

05/Nov/2024

There are many everyday habits that may seem perfectly harmless, but in fact can actually cause damage to your overall oral health. Chewing ice is one of those routine habits that can cause some major dental problems. Understanding the potential harmful effects may keep you from biting down on an ice cube and save you from unnecessary dental problems.

Chewing Ice & Tooth Damage

Chewing ice can cause microscopic fractures in enamel that can become larger and even broken teeth. Your teeth are made of enamel and dentin. The enamel is the hard surface that is exposed and covers the dentin underneath that is not as hard. Chewing on ice can wear down and weaken the enamel of your teeth, which can cause cracking. If the enamel is cracked and dentin is exposed, your teeth can become weakened and sensitive because within the dentin is the nerve of the tooth. This could also lead to increase sensitivity to hot and cold and make your teeth more vulnerable to decay.

Dental Work

In addition to the harmful effects to the teeth, you run the risk of damaging your dental work. Fillings, crowns and other previous dental work may weaken the tooth and cause it to chip more easily. This could lead to further and more extensive dental work needed and even more time in the dental chair. You’ve spent the time and money to make your smile healthy, you will want to lessen any danger of harming your beautiful smile.|

Gum Damage From Chewing Ice

The pieces of ice can become sharp as they are broken down in your mouth. This causes potential cuts on the soft tissues inside your mouth. Constantly chewing on ice and pressing down on the gums could cause injury to your gums and potentially lead to gum recession. Chewing sugar-free gum may help fight the urge of chewing and lessen the risk of puncturing your gums and causing serious damage.

Underlying Medical Concerns

The desire to chew ice cubes may be due to underlying medical conditions. Studies have shown that people with the iron deficiency anemia, nutritional deficiencies, obsessive compulsive disorder, emotional and developmental disorders may be more likely to chew on ice. If you have the consistent urge to chew on ice, it is a good idea to seek medical attention and rule out any underlying health issues.

Contact South Tampa Smiles at (813) 289 – 0560 today if you believe your habit has caused damage to your teeth or need a checkup to protect your teeth and your beautiful smile!

Dr. Cannariato

05/Nov/2024

Having hypersensitive teeth is a common experience with symptoms ranging from moderate to severe. It is caused by the movement of fluid within tiny tubes located in the dentin (the layer of tissue found beneath the hard enamel that contains the inner pulp), which results in nerve irritation. Finding the underlying cause is important to help alleviate the sensitivity.

Dentin Exposure (Receding Gums)

Exposure of Dentin is the most common underlying cause. Dentin is the area that surrounds the root of the tooth. It is normally covered by gum tissue. Hypersensitive teeth can occur when the gums recede and expose part of the dentin. This becomes more common as we age. Read more on aging and oral health for more information on other dental processes that can develop with age.

Other Common Causes

Sometimes sensitivity may be caused by certain activities other factors including:

Teeth Grinding
Brushing too Hard
Eating Acidic Foods
Decay
Cracked Tooth

If you have had recent dental procedures it is common to have some sensitivity that will diminish in time and should be of no concern. Dental treatments that may cause temporary hypersensitive teeth including:

Recent Fillings, Crowns,
Placement and Adjustment of Braces
Periodontal Treatment
Teeth Whitening

Treatment for Hypersensitive Teeth

Treatment for hypersensitive teeth can range from simple home treatments to office treatments and surgical procedures. You may be able to alleviate your discomfort by using desensitizing toothpaste for sensitive teeth at home. If using desensitizing toothpaste does not ease your discomfort, there are in-office fluoride treatments that can help. When your discomfort is due to an underlying dental problem, you will need office treatment such as a filling or crown. If your sensitivity is due to the loss of gum tissue, you may need a surgical gum graft to cover the root. This will protect the tooth and reduce the sensitivity. When the sensitivity is severe and cannot be alleviated by other means, you may need endodontic treatment (root canal) to eliminate the pain.

Getting Help

The first step to correct your hypersensitive teeth is to determine your cause. Whether it is due to exposure of dentin or an underlying cause such as decay or abscess, corrective measures are needed. Our professional team at South Tampa Smiles can help. Contact us at (813) 289 – 0560 if you are experiencing pain due to hypersensitive teeth. We are here to provide you with some relief!

Source: Ada.org

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