How to diagnose and treat tooth sensitivity and pain?

Tooth sensitivity is generally caused by not paying attention when brushing teeth, incorrect choice of toothbrush, or improper diet. Most people live for most of their lives without knowing that their toothbrushes are actually unsuitable. Some are too hard, and some cause varying degrees of wear on the teeth due to the way of brushing. Let's take a look at the diagnosis and treatment of tooth sensitivity and pain.

To treat sensitive teeth, the first thing to do is to determine whether the pain is a transient, stabbing pain, to distinguish it from the hot and cold pain of pulpitis, the chewing pain of periodontal disease, and the dull pain of temporomandibular joint disorder. If the pain is indeed transient, the next step is to make a differential diagnosis from other dental diseases. If the pain is still felt after excluding other causes, it is likely that you have "sensitive teeth". The treatment can be divided into two parts: in-clinic treatment and home care.

Sensitive teeth can be treated in the clinic by applying waterproof ointments such as fluoride, potassium nitrate, oxalate, and calcium phosphate to the tooth surface; or resins can be used to fill the worn areas of the tooth neck. However, the disadvantage is that they are more likely to fall off, and you may have to return to the clinic frequently. You can also make crowns or dental guards to prevent wear on the occlusal surface of the teeth. Laser treatment, periodontal root coverage surgery, and occlusal adjustment are also effective.

Home care focuses on prevention, and factors that may irritate the dentinal tubules should be eliminated as much as possible. For example, do not brush your teeth with cold water when you get up in the morning, choose a toothbrush with soft bristles, and use light force when brushing your teeth. If you are not sure about the force and are worried that you cannot brush your teeth thoroughly, you may want to use an electric toothbrush instead. Studies have shown that brushing your teeth 2 to 3 hours after eating acidic foods is more likely to cause tooth sensitivity, so it is best to develop a habit of cleaning your teeth after eating.

In terms of diet, you should avoid highly acidic foods such as citrus fruits, carbonated soda, yogurt, red wine and white wine to prevent acid erosion of your teeth, and you should check whether there is gastrointestinal reflux that causes stimulation from acidic substances. At the same time, avoid chewing hard foods such as peanuts, sugar cane, guava, betel nuts, bones, hard shells, etc. to avoid damaging the enamel. Adequate sleep and moderate exercise can relieve tension and help reduce bruxism.

You should choose toothpaste containing high-quality abrasives and a health toothbrush, and brush your teeth with the correct method to avoid tooth wear. If there are small cavities or tiny cracks on your teeth, use a toothpaste with repairing properties. If tooth sensitivity occurs, you should use desensitizing toothpaste to relieve pain. This is suitable for people who have many sensitive teeth, whose allergic sites are not very clear, and whose allergic symptoms are relatively mild.

The above is what I want to introduce to you here today about the diagnosis and treatment of sensitive teeth. I hope you have understood it in detail. You must pay more attention to the care of your teeth, brush your teeth in the morning and evening, do not eat too much sweets and acidic foods, and those with heavy tartar should consider cleaning your teeth once a year. I hope the above content will be helpful to you.