My Teeth Hurt after Cleaning

If you are one of the unfortunate people who suffer from tooth sensitivity, you are not alone.  Dentin hypersensitivity is pain in a single tooth or multiple teeth.  You may notice the pain after eating something cold or hot or even after a dental cleaning.  Even though brushing and flossing at home do not cause you any issues, the teeth cleaning in chapel hill north carolina performed by the dentist or hygienist is deeper and more thorough.

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?

When you start to experience tooth sensitivity, the underlying root of your tooth is exposed from gum recession.  Teeth are coated with enamel which helps prevent you from experiencing sensitivity all the time.  The roots of your teeth do not have this hard enamel coating are cause more sensitivity related pain and discomfort as a result.  The thousands of tiny channels on each tooth lead to the nerve core or the pulp of the tooth.  The exposure of a single channel, as numerous as they are, can result in serious displeasure from any heat, cold or pressure.  These extremes can more easily reach the tooth’s nerve and leave you to deal with the unpleasantness.

For most people, their tooth sensitivity can be traced back to any of the following:

• Poor oral hygiene- if you have a build up of tartar and plaque on your teeth, your gums are more susceptible to bacteria and gum disease.  Gum disease causes inflammation and gum recession exposing more of the unenameled root.
• Diet- if you eat a diet rich in acidic and sugary foods, you can erode the protective enamel from the tooth’s surface.  If you regularly eat or drink hot and cold items you can over stimulate the tooth nerve.
• Brushing too aggressively- This is a frequently occurring problem for many people.  Approximately two in every three people use too much pressure when they brush their teeth at home.  In some cases, people even use too hard of a tooth brush to clean their teeth twice a day at home.
• Mouthwash- If you use mouthwash regularly over the course of months and years, then you may be contributing to enamel damage.  With a weaker enamel, you have more sensitivity.
• Damaged, cracked, broken, worn down, or ground teeth
• Post dental procedure – whitening, cleaning, veneer application, crown application or even fillings can result in a more sensitive mouth Injuries to the nerves in your teeth resulting in damage

How Can I Treat Tooth Sensitivity?

While tooth sensitivity is very unpleasant, it is very common.  Depending on the cause of your sensitivity, there are a number of ways to treat and even prevent the pain from it.  Be sure to take good care of your teeth at home with regular, but gentle, brushing and flossing.  Maintain twice yearly dental cleanings to prevent gum recession from gum disease.

If you already have tooth sensitivity, you can use a toothpaste that addresses sensitive teeth, brush carefully, avoid acidic drinks and foods and use a fluoride rinse to restore the surface of your teeth.  Take time to talk to your dentist and your dental hygienist about your sensitivity for more instructions and suggestions.

More on Teeth Cleaning & Exams : How much does teeth cleaning & exams cost?