Dental Care for All of Us

Many people struggle with tooth sensitivity on a daily basis. It can make eating, drinking, and even brushing your teeth difficult. But do you really need to see a dentist if you're experiencing tooth sensitivity? If you've wondered this yourself, here's what you ought to know about this condition, its potential causes, and what you should be doing to improve the situation.

The Common Conundrum

Although many people quickly head to the dentist's office when they experience tooth pain, the same isn't necessarily true when it's simply tooth sensitivity. The main difference being, of course, that tooth pain tends to hurt constantly, whereas sensitivity can be mitigated by avoiding certain triggers, like hot or cold drinks.

The main reason why people don't think sensitivity is a big deal is because so many products are sold in markets that 'treat' tooth sensitivity. It's easier to reach for one of these than to see a dentist, so many people don't even consider seeing a dentist for this problem until it becomes legitimate tooth pain.

What Causes Sensitivity

The problem with this line of thought is that there can be a wide range of things causing your tooth sensitivity, and not all of them are minor conditions.

Tooth sensitivity usually develops because something is causing the nerves in your teeth to become hypersensitive. This can happen for a long list of reasons, starting with thinning enamel on the tooth, an injury or damage to the tooth, or even more advanced and complex conditions like tooth resorption, which breaks down the tooth from the inside. To make matters worse, while teeth sensitivity products sold in stores can help to reduce the discomfort you're experiencing, they don't actually treat any of these conditions. They simply help to desensitize your nerves so that you're not feeling the discomfort, but the root problem is still there.

Getting Help

Even if you think it's a minor inconvenience to have tooth sensitivity and nothing more, you should still visit a dentist about it. Dentists can quickly determine what's causing your tooth sensitivity. If you're lucky, then the only problem behind it will be thinning enamel, which your dentist can help to treat. Keep in mind that without treatment, this condition can quickly escalate into a tooth cavity or worse, so even the most minor condition that can cause this problem doesn't necessarily stay minor.

Other more advanced conditions can also be detected and treated by dentists with examinations and x-rays. Waiting too long, however, can allow these conditions to progress to the point where the tooth or nerve is seriously damaged, which may call for a root canal. Needless to say, time is of the essence here.

If you find your tooth sensitivity is affecting your everyday life, reach out to Professional Dental Center to get help.