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Sensitive Front Teeth: What are The Reasons & Solutions?

sensitive front teeth

Do you always experience a sharp, sudden pain in your front teeth when eating certain foods or when you expose them to extreme temperature? If yes, you’ve got a problem of sensitive front teeth.

Teeth sensitivity on one or all your front teeth is uncomfortable. It strikes suddenly, resulting in a sharp pain. While this is a problem on its own, it may be a good sign that you’ve some underlying health issues. A trip to your dentist might help put your fears to rest.

Before you head out to the dentist, however, take the time to read the following post. It contains useful information on the factors that could be making your front teeth sensitive to hot or cold drinks and extreme temperatures.

Let’s get started…

SIX Biggest Causes of Sensitivity on Your Front Teeth

1. Exposed Dentine

Exposure of the dentine (or the root) of your teeth to the oral environment is one of the main causes of front teeth sensitivity. The exposure can be caused by several factors, one of them being gum recession. Dentin is the soft material that helps support the tooth. When exposed, you’ll experience a fierce pain especially when you take hot or cold foods. Or even spicy and sweet foods.

When exposed, you’ll experience a fierce pain especially when you take hot or cold foods. Or even spicy and sweet foods.

2. You Apply too Much Pressure When Brushing

Sometimes, applying too much force or using a hard-bristled toothbrush causes sensitive front teeth. As you continue with this bad habit, your outer teeth protective layers become worn out exposing the microscopic pores that give way to dental nerves. The ultimate result of exposing these pores to hot, cold, acidic or sticky foods is teeth sensitivity ad discomforts.

There’s a simple solution to sensitive front teeth – brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush and use less force when brushing.

There are many high-quality electronic toothbrushes out there that switches off when you apply excessive force on your teeth. We recommend you to get such a toothbrush.

Here’s a quick video about 11 toothbrushing mistakes people usually make:

3. Do You Grind Your Teeth At Night?

If you’re a teeth grinder, and you’re experiencing pain on your front teeth, this is your part. Your teeth grinding habit at night is the reason your front teeth are highly sensitive. The grinding action wears out the teeth enamel- the strongest substance in a human body.

This leads to the exposure of dentin which contains microscopic pores leading to the dental nerves. When the nerves are exposed you will feel the pain of sensitive front teeth.

4. Gum Diseases Could Be the Cause

Receding gums is a condition becoming increasingly common as you age. If you’ve not been taking care of your oral health, you’re at higher risk of getting this condition. The worst side of gum recession is that it leads to exposure of dentine, opening up pores leading to the dental nerves and eventually making your teeth sensitive. Gingivitis can also make your teeth sensitive.

5. You Recently Underwent a Dental Procedure

If you’ve had a dental procedure on your teeth recently, it’s another possible reason why you’re getting the short, sharp pains. Most patients make second (and even third trips) to their dentists complaining of the high sensitivity of their teeth to extreme temperatures or certain foods.

This happens after they’ve undergone a root canal, placement of a crown, extraction, or fitting of braces. Teeth sensitivity from dental procedure disappears after a short time. If it stays a little longer, don’t hesitate to re-visit your dentist for professional help.

This happens after they’ve undergone a root canal, placement of a crown, extraction, or fitting of braces. Teeth sensitivity from dental procedure disappears after a short time. If it stays a little longer, don’t hesitate to re-visit your dentist for professional help.

6. Use of Whitening Toothpaste

Many manufacturers are using tooth whitening substances to manufacturer their toothpastes. Some users may be more sensitive to these products than others. If you find yourself being affected by these substances, consider switching to new toothpaste- perhaps a desensitizing one.

Ways to Reduce The Effect Of Sensitive Front

Use Toothpastes for Sensitive Teeth

There are several brands on the market offering special kinds of toothpaste for people with sensitive front teeth. Unlike the others, these kinds of toothpaste contain potassium nitrate, a compound that helps seal the pores on the dentine. Though these toothpastes might not work for all of you, experts agree that this is the best place to start.

See also:

Adopt Better Brushing Habits

If you’re using a hard-bristled toothbrush, switch to a soft-bristled one. If you’re brushing for less than two minutes, set your timer. If you’re scrubbing your teeth vigorously, it doesn’t make any difference- be gentle on them. If you keep repeating the bad habits when brushing your teeth, you’re not doing yourself any favors. You’re only clearing the way to your death. As a reminder, overzealous brushing wears out your teeth enamel and can also cause recession of your gums. These are two common conditions for teeth sensitivity to occur.

If you keep repeating the bad habits when brushing your teeth, you’re not doing yourself any favors. You’re only clearing the way to your death. As a reminder, overzealous brushing wears out your teeth enamel and can also cause recession of your gums. These are two common conditions for teeth sensitivity to occur.

Keep Off Acidic Foods and Drinks

They might be the reason why your soft dentine is being exposed or you enamel is wearing out slowly and opening up more pores. Also, keep off acidic fruits e.g. pickles and oranges if you want to save your enamel from constant attack. If you can’t keep of these foods/drinks/fruits, it’s important to brush your teeth 20 minutes after taking them.

If you can’t keep of these foods/drinks/fruits, it’s important to brush your teeth 20 minutes after taking them. That should reduce sensitive front teeth pain.

Stop Teeth Grinding at Night!

As we discussed earlier, grinding your teeth at night gives your front teeth a direct ticket to the world of sensitivity. Teeth grinding usually occurs at night, and you might not know that you’re doing it. But headaches and jaw pain could are good clues. If you’ve got this problem, consider investing in a mouthguard or changing your sleeping position at night.

Teeth clenching is also related to teeth grinding, only that it occurs during the day. It can be avoided by relaxing your jaws at all times and keeping your teeth slightly apart.

Seek Treatment for Receding Gums

If the gum tissue covering up the roots of your front teeth is undergoing recession, you need to take a quick action! Your dentist will help rebuild/restore the receding gums. Before visiting the dentist, I’d advise you to find the exact cause for recession.

If you discover that it’s hard brushing, you need to switch to correct brushing first. Otherwise, you might spend a lot on rebuilding the gums only to damage them again with improper brushing.

Conclusion

You’re not the only one experiencing sensitive front teeth. Other folks are undergoing the same suffering. But with the above-discussed methods of ending this pain, you’re fully armed to face it.

Note: If the pain persists, book an appointment with your dental care provider.

 

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