Don’t let tooth pain and sensitivity keep you from fully engaging in your day to day life. Thanks to advancements in modern dentistry, you can get the prompt and effective treatment you need, while safeguarding the health of your smile. Keep reading to learn more from our Tinley Park dentists about how and why sensitivity develops…
Damaged Dental Enamel
One of the primary purposes of dental enamel is to protect sensitive tooth layers—like dentin and dental pulp—from bacteria and irritants. Unfortunately, when enamel is damaged due to trauma, infection, or simply wearing down over time, it becomes a less effective barrier layer. Irritants that didn’t register at all before can now slip through the enamel’s surface, leading to discomfort.
Failing Gum Tissue
Gum disease doesn’t just affect the gum layer that you can see, it also weakens hidden connective tissues that help to support healthy tooth and jawbone tissue. As gum disease progresses, your oral tissues become less elastic and resilient. The result is that your gums start to pull away from your teeth, forming small gaps called “periodontal pockets.” These pockets allow substances to reach your dental nerves right below the gum-line.
During your appointment with our Orland Park dentists, we will analyze your smile in order to determine the root cause your discomfort. Then, we can make some treatment recommendations that suit your specific needs. We may suggest treatments or therapies that…
Minimize Nerve Sensitivity
You have probably noticed that there are a number of toothpastes and mouth rinses on the market that are designed for sensitive teeth. Switching to sensitive-safe oral hygiene product, or adding one into your daily routine, can help you live with less pain, and jump back into your daily routine. While these solutions may not meet your long-term needs, they are a great place to start.
Support Strong Enamel
The stronger your enamel is, the better it is able to shield sensitive nerves from irritants. Topical fluoride applications can fortify enamel—this can be achieved through in-office treatments or at-home use of fluoridated formulations. We also encourage our patients to seek prompt treatment for bruxism (dental grinding), as the tooth-on-tooth contact associated with bruxism is particularly hard on enamel.
Bulk-up Insufficient Enamel
Whether your enamel is universally thin, or you have discrete spots of infection or weakness, restorative treatment will help to treat sensitivity. Materials like composite resin and porcelain are applied on top of the natural enamel, essentially acting as protective coverings for the tooth as a whole.
If you have additional questions, or you would like to schedule a consultation with our Orland Park dentists, just give our office a call!