Do you suffer from sudden tooth sensitivity? Is it becoming more difficult to drink or eat something hot or cold? If so, you are not alone. A Canada Dental Association Report estimated that 12.2% of Canadians avoid certain foods because of teeth problems.
This sudden sharp pain is temporary but can affect an individual’s life in a big way. Most people with this dental problem avoid their favourite foods, which negatively affect their health.
Why are sensitive teeth so painful?
Your teeth have an outer layer of enamel protecting the softer, inner layer of dentin. This inner layer consists of nerve endings. Dental problems such as cavities, cracked teeth can compromise the enamel cover, thus exposing the nerve endings.
It is easy for these exposed nerves to become stimulated when taking hot or cold food and drinks. This leads to excruciating pain. Tooth sensitivity treatment is at the core of dental hygiene training and certification.
Dental hygiene training programs equip dental assistants with prerequisite skills to help millions of people suffering from tooth sensitivity.
Root Causes of Sudden Tooth Sensitivity
If you suffer sensitive teeth pain, it is important to understand the probable reasons behind the problem. During training, dental assistants learn how to administer oral exams to identify the following causes of tooth sensitivity:
1. Harsh Brushing
Brushing is one of the best ways to take care of your teeth. However, abrasive brushing affects the enamel layer leading to exposure of nerve endings.
2. Teeth Grinding or Clenching
Teeth grinding (bruxism) affects approximately 8% of adults and close to 13% of children according to the Canadian Sleep Society. It leads to cracked, chipped, broken teeth which compromise the enamel layer. This, in turn, leads to pain when you take hot or cold drinks.
3. Tooth Decay
Tooth decay eats away the enamel layer of your teeth. This exposes the dentin containing nerves and causes sensitivity.
4. Eating Acidic or Hard Foods
Taking juices, citrus fruits, and sports drinks over time deteriorate the enamel layer. This exposes the nerves leading to stimulation when taking hot or cold drinks.
5. Tooth Whitening
Harsh whitening products such as bleaches compromise your teeth’s covering. This causes pain when nerve endings get stimulated.
6. Ice Chewing
Chewing sweet ice is popular with kids, but poses a big risk. Hard ice can crack the enamel layer with time, leading to sudden tooth sensitivity to cold.
7. Gum Problems
Your gum protects the teeth and any problems affecting it increase the risk of tooth sensitivity. Gum infection and gingivitis lead to gum-related tooth sensitivity.
8. Split Tooth
A broken or chipped tooth leads to sudden sharp pain due to exposure of the inner dentin layer. The nerves inside react to stimulus instantly leading to sharp pain.
9. Dental Procedures
Dental procedures are invasive. There’s thus the risk of short-term pain after some of these procedures.
Wrapping up
At the Southern Ontario Dental College, we appreciate the importance of proper dental care. Our programs equip dental care students with the prerequisite skills to practise professionally and ethically.
We offer accredited Dental Assisting Program Level I & II training to prepare our students to become the best in the dental care profession.
Are you interested in the treatment of sudden tooth sensitivity? We invite you to join our dental education program at The Southern Ontario Dental College. We are the leaders in dental health care training.