If you have ever felt some tingling pain inside your teeth when you take hot or cold stuff, then this thread is for you! Most times this pain feels like the nerves inside the teeth are the ones suffering the effect. In a lot of cases, the effects (sharp pain) gets transferred to the head through the nerves.
This is quite a load of discomfort, and it is an indicator that you should start paying more attention to your oral health. This pain is generally known as a toothache, and it is as a result of tooth sensitivity. It occurs when the tooth is exposed to foods or drinks with high or low temperatures.
What Causes Sensitivity of the Tooth?
There are tons and tons of reasons why a particular person would have a toothache from tooth sensitivity. To break this down in a form everyone can understand, tooth sensitivity happens when the dentin inside the tooth loses enamel or cementum.
Enamel is the protective layer of the dentin, while the outer layer is called the cementum. This condition leaves the nerve endings of the tooth exposed to the effects of high and low-temperature foods, acidic foods, etc.
The common factors that cause tooth sensitivity are:
- Eroding of the tooth by acidic foods and beverages
- Damage of the enamel with a hard toothbrush
- Tooth decay
- Broken tooth
- Receding Gums
- Worn-out tooth fillings
- Grinding of the teeth, especially at night
- Dental procedures
- Teeth whitening treatments
All these factors are usually non-hereditary. They are as a result of poor oral hygiene and choice of food. The lifestyle of some people can’t help them in terms of preventing pain from sensitive teeth. They eat a lot of sugary junk and do not pay attention to their oral hygiene. In cases like this, the pain might be severe or not the best option is to seek the attention of a dentist as soon as possible and consider some lifestyle changes too.
Since the causes are now established, it is important to determine the symptoms
Symptoms of Sensitive Teeth
There are a lot of symptoms of sensitive teeth, but let us go through a few get an idea of what to expect as a symptom:
- Pain in the tooth when breathing in cold air
- Swelling or redness of the gums
- Increase in sensitivity of the teeth to acidic, cold and hot foods
- Receding Gums
With the right treatments, the teeth will be restored to a healthy and normal condition.
Now, what are the home remedies for relief from sensitive teeth? Lets take a look at each one of them.
11 Home Remedies to Relieve Sensitive Teeth
1. Coconut Oil Rinse
This method involves using the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of coconut oil to reduce the pain felt by the tooth. To use this method, you would need a tablespoon of coconut oil.
Pour a tablespoon of virgin coconut oil into your mouth and swish for about 20 minutes. Then spit out the oil and brush your teeth afterward. Ensure that you do this daily, especially in the morning.
2. Onions
Onions are antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, and can fight oral pathogens as well as treat tooth pain. You need a piece of onion to chew on for a few minutes, or place it on the affected area and leave it for about 10 minutes. Do this once or twice daily for desired results.
3. Saltwater Rinse
Salt can reduce inflammation due to its natural antiseptic properties. Get half a teaspoon of salt and one glass of warm water. Now add the salt to the warm water and mix it thoroughly. Use the mixture to rinse your mouth, and ensure you do this two times daily.
4. Vitamins
The vitamins required for treating tooth sensitivity are vitamin B and vitamin E. If you are not getting enough, then you might need to take supplements. The two vitamins help to combat inflammation of the affected area to promote healthy gums and teeth. Consuming foods like fish, almonds, spinach, kale, turnip, meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy would supply these vitamins.
5. Yogurt
Yogurt prevents demineralization of the enamel. So get a half bowl of plain yogurt, and eat it all up. Ensure you do this at least once daily.
6. Garlic
Garlic has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory capabilities that treat toothache and fight oral pathogens. Now get a garlic clove, a milliliter of water, and a pinch of salt. Now crush the garlic clove and add a few drops of water and a salt pinch to it. Rub the mixture on the tooth and leave it to ac for about 15 minutes before washing it off. Doing this once a day is enough.
7. Guava Leaves
The leaves of guava contain flavonoids such as quercetin and rutin, which both have anti-inflammatory properties and relieve sensitive tooth pain. Take a few guava leaves and wash them properly. Chew them for about 2 minutes and spit them out. Try doing this once or twice daily.
8. Clove Oil
Get six drops of clove oil and add it to one teaspoon of coconut oil. Stir the mixture and apply it on the affected area. Leave it for about 10 minutes then wash it off with water. Do this once or twice daily. The analgesic effect of clove oil numbs the affected tooth and the surrounding gums. This relieves the pain instantly, coupled with the present natural microbicides that kill oral pathogens.
9. Tea Tree Oil
The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects of tea tree oil make it one ideal for enhancing oral health. Get six drops of tea tree oil and add it to one teaspoon of coconut oil.
Stir the mixture well and apply it to the affected area. Leave it for about 10 minutes then wash it off with water. Do this once or twice daily, and make sure you don’t swallow the oil mixture.
10. Fluoride Mouthwash
Fluoride helps to strengthen the enamel of the teeth and helps to reduce a toothache to a great extent. All you need is a cup of fluoride mouthwash. Take a sip and rinse your mouth with it. Make sure you rinse it very well for like 2 minutes before you spit it out. Do this twice a day for good results.
11. Fluoride Toothpaste
Using a fluoride toothpaste is recommended for proper maintenance of the teeth. A healthy tooth means there would be no pain associated with sensitive teeth. Fluoride helps to strengthen the enamel of the teeth and helps to reduce a toothache to a great extent.
Apart from following the remedies mentioned above, there are a lot of reasons to take personal precautions regarding dealing with the teeth. Handling the tooth well prevents an outbreak of tooth sensitivity in the future. Some basic lifestyle changes can enhance the health of the teeth and prevent the occurrence of sensitive tooth pain.
Tips to Prevent Sensitivity in Teeth
- Using a soft bristled brush would prevent the teeth from experiencing wear from abrasion. A hard bristled brush can have an abrasive effect on the teeth and gums, which can lead to irritation or wear of enamel.
- The way you brush your teeth matters a lot. Brushing your teeth with a lot of force would cause the gums to get inflamed and also cause the enamel to wear off. Ensure to brush gently, swaying from side to side and top to bottom at regular intervals.
- One of the fastest ways to cause your teeth to wear is by grinding them often. Grinding your teeth on each other causes them to wear or even break. To be on a safer side, avoid grinding your teeth completely.
- From what we have discussed so far, it is clear that acidic foods have a part to play in causing wear of the teeth. This now leads to the pain associated with sensitive teeth. Try out new delicacies that are low in acid content.
- Nothing beats good oral hygiene. If you do not brush your teeth twice daily, use mouthwash, and floss your teeth, then you are in for a lot of dental issues.
- A regular visit to the dentist would not bite at all. A dentist would help you keep track of your oral health, and help render treatments when something goes wrong. You should give your dentist a call today.
There are also foods that are not advised to be consumed when experiencing pain from sensitive teeth. They include
- Sodas
- Ice cream
- Hot tea
- Candy
- Toffee
- Hot coffee
- Citrus fruits
- Ice
- Tomatoes
- Cold drinks
Conclusion
If you take the right steps, tooth sensitivity can easily be managed. This is possible if you follow a proper oral regimen and remove some certain foods from your diet. In times where the tooth pain becomes severe and unbearable, it is best to see a dentist as soon as possible.
Sources:
Healthline , Drstevenlin
