Do you wince when you drink ice-cold beverages or sip a steaming cup of coffee? Tooth sensitivity is a common issue that can affect your daily life and make eating or drinking challenging. 
At Bay Area Dental Specialists, our experienced prosthodontist, Dr. Ashwini Bhave, specializes in helping patients find relief from sensitive teeth.
We understand how frustrating and painful this can be, and we’re here to offer solutions that work for your life.
Common Causes of Tooth Sensitivity
To understand how to treat tooth sensitivity, it helps to know why it happens. Common causes are:
Enamel Erosion
The enamel — the outermost layer on your teeth — prevents sensitivity by shielding the underlying tooth layer (the dentin).
The dentin is directly linked to nerves that cause pain signals. When enamel thins or erodes, the dentin is exposed.
This is what leads to tooth sensitivity. Brushing too hard, teeth grinding, certain acidic foods and harsh whitening products can all contribute to enamel erosion. Tooth enamel also thins naturally as you age.
Gum Recession
Receding gums can expose your tooth roots. Your tooth roots are covered by cementum, which serves a protective role similar to enamel in the tooth’s crown.
But, like enamel, cementum may wear down. If your gums recede, they expose the cementum. If it’s thin, you can experience below-the-gum sensitivity.
Many factors may lead to gum recession, including aggressive brushing, poor oral hygiene, smoking, and genetics.
Tooth Decay
Cavities are small holes in your teeth. They burrow through your enamel and deeper tooth layers so that an untreated cavity can cause tooth sensitivity and pain.
How to Manage Tooth Sensitivity
While dealing with sensitive teeth can be frustrating, there are several steps you can take to reduce discomfort and protect your teeth:
- Switch to a softer toothbrush: Use soft bristles and gently brush to avoid further enamel erosion.
- Use toothpaste for sensitive teeth: Special toothpaste can help block nerve pain signals.
- Limit acidic foods and drinks: Citrus fruits, sodas, and other acidic foods and beverages can worsen enamel erosion and increase sensitivity, so avoid them as much as possible.
- Avoid grinding teeth: A custom-made night guard can stop teeth at night. This prevents further enamel erosion.
- Treat dental problems: This may involve a cavity filling, a surgical gum graft, a root canal, or other treatment to restore your teeth or gums.
- Fluoride treatment: Dr. Bhave can apply a fluoride varnish to sensitive teeth. It can help strengthen your tooth enamel.
Dr. Bhave tailors a treatment based on your specific needs.
Tooth Sensitivity Help in San Jose and the Bay Area
We’re here to help with tooth sensitivity in San Jose and the entire Bay Area, so if you’re ready to find relief, call us at 408-809-7760 to schedule an appointment today.