Some people are more sensitive than others when it comes to dental pain, but this doesn’t mean you should try and tough out the discomfort. If your teeth start hurting on a regular basis, then it is time to reach out to our Tinley Park dentists for an oral health assessment. Our team will take a look at your smile, and help you determine the root cause of your dental pain.
Generally speaking, there are a few common causes of tooth pain and sensitivity:
Dental Infection
As oral bacteria infect your teeth, they begin to eat away at the previously healthy enamel and dentin layers that protect sensitive nerves. As a result, your tooth nerves are exposed to oral bacteria, dental debris, and other irritants. In these cases, our team needs to eliminate the infected tooth structure, and restore the tooth to health using dental-grade materials.
Enamel Erosion
Nerve sensitivity can also result from a decrease in healthy dental enamel—the outermost protective layer of your tooth. If you regularly grind and clench your teeth, you will likely find that your enamel is thinning. Additionally, acidic foods and drinks, as well as vigorous brushing can lead to enamel erosion. We want to optimize your dental routine to help ensure that you are protecting natural enamel as much as possible.
Receding Gums
Another way that irritants can reach your dental nerves is through the tooth root. Healthy gum tissue covers the nerves in the roots of your teeth. However, when this tissue becomes infected, your gums will actually pull away from your natural teeth. Prompt treatment is required to support gum tissue healing and regeneration.
No matter what the current state of your smile our Orland Park dentists are here to help you reclaim oral health and comfort. The best way to get started is to call our dental team to set up a consultation and oral health assessment. We look forward to speaking with you!