4 Dental Treatments to Help Teeth Sensitive to Cold
Admin • March 11, 2020
When you eat or drink cold items, the last thing you want to experience is a shock through your teeth, gums, and jaw. When you become sensitive to cold foods, the way you eat and plan meals may dramatically change.
Thankfully, sensitivity to the cold does not have to be a permanent problem. Dentists have multiple procedures to help reduce the sensitivity and allow you to enjoy cold items again.
1. Dental Sealant & Fluoride Treatments
Your teeth may feel sensitive to cold temperatures due to enamel wear. Acids and sugars break down the enamel in your mouth over time and result in the sensitivity to cold. A dentist provides multiple ways to help prevent enamel wear and protect your teeth.
A dentist may perform fluoride treatment while at the office. Fluoride is an essential element to protect and strengthen the enamel in your mouth. Along with fluoride toothpaste at home, an in-office treatment will add extra protection to your teeth.
A dentist may also apply a sealant to your back molars. The sealant goes over the top of the teeth and helps prevent sensitivity as you bite or chew cold foods. The procedure is typically painless as the sealant is literally painted on the top of a tooth.
2. Gum Treatments
Your gums may factor into cold food sensitivity. If you have brushed away your gums, the exposed nerves and tooth may be more sensitive to the area. Gum disease and built-up plaque could also cause gum issues. Gum health is just as important as tooth health when you take care of your mouth.
A hygienist or dentist will perform a deep cleaning of your mouth. The deep cleaning eliminates harmful bacteria and build-up found directly in the gums. Reversing any signs of gum disease like gingivitis will be the first step to reducing the sensitivity to cold food.
After a deep clean, follow up with self-care that includes healthy brushing habits and flossing. Over time, you will notice the sensitivity disappear as the gums return to a healthy state. Every mouth is different. The process could take weeks or months depending on the severity of the problem.
3. Tooth Protection
If you grind your teeth, you could wear down the tooth and expose nerve endings. When you expose the nerves, the teeth become extremely sensitive to cold items and may send jolts through your whole mouth.
Along with treatments to help repair worn teeth, a dentist will help you prevent future issues. A custom mouth guard will protect your teeth while you sleep. You will prevent the exposure of nerves and enjoy more cold foods without any problems. The mouth guard also helps prevent jaw pains or heads associated with tooth grinding.
4. Cracked Tooth Treatment
If your sensitivity to cold food has appeared suddenly, you may have a cracked tooth. The cracked tooth exposes a lot of nerves within the teeth and the cold temperatures will be almost unbearable as you eat or drink.
A dentist has multiple treatment options for a cracked tooth, but the treatment depends on the location of the crack. A small crack that has not reached the root of the tooth is typically treated through a root canal. If the crack goes deep, you may need the tooth extracted and replaced with a dental implant.
A dentist performs x-rays to determine the location and cause of the crack. Once fully treated and healed, the sensitivity to cold should dissipate.
Consult with our dentists at Silver Lake Family Dental to set up an appointment and evaluation for your sensitive teeth. In the long run, our professionals will strive to provide you with treatment that changes the way you enjoy foods for the better.
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Many dental patients need to wear a night guard at night to avoid damage from clenching their jaw and grinding their teeth. Whether you're choosing a custom-fitted one you send away in the mail, a basic boil-and-bite guard, or a professional night guard fitted in person by your dentist, a night guard can be an essential part of your dental care. Here are some considerations for helping you choose between the many night guard options available to you. 1. Texture of the Guard Some night guards are made of soft and cushion-like plastic. This may sound positive, since the material will be able to soften the shock of clenching your teeth together. However, these chewy-textured guards may actually encourage a chewing motion and could actually increase grinding in some cases. Increased grinding could mean that symptoms such as jaw and muscle soreness, headaches, and gum irritation increase. These symptoms can still occur even if you're using a night guard, so you can see why choosing a guard that doesn't increase grinding is important. A less squishy, comparatively hard-textured night guard may work better. 2. Comfort and Convenience Before you decide on a night guard, think about the process of wearing it. If you have a sensitive gag reflex or jaw joint issues (such as temporomandibular problems, which may accompany nighttime grinding), you may not be comfortable holding a thick, bulky guard in your mouth. An uncomfortable night guard is not only less pleasant to wear, but may keep you awake at night, reducing sleep duration or quality. Or you may even find yourself removing it in your sleep, eliminating its effectiveness. So comfort is a big deal here. A guard that's made of an extra-stiff material or one that's not quite the right shape and size could also be uncomfortable. 3. Sturdiness and Longevity Before comparing prices on different styles of night guard, don't forget to consider the monthly or yearly price based on the product's expected lifespan. Check the product information to see how long the product typically lasts. And don't forget to factor in the possibility of chewing through the guard. If your nighttime grinding is bad enough that your dentist has told you to wear a night guard, you may be at risk of wearing through your night guards on a regular basis. Talk to your dentist about how severe your problem is and whether you'll need to look for an extra-durable night guard. 4. Price For many patients, price is a big factor. If you can afford it, you should consider investing in the professionally fitted night guard your dentist offers. Although expensive up front, these guards are likely to offer a long service life. They're also less likely to be bulky and uncomfortable. However, for many dental patients, a professional guard is just not affordable, especially if you don't have dental insurance to cover it. In this scenario, you're likely better off looking for a mid-range price rather than a bottom basement product that's made as cheaply as possible. Some patients use a sports mouthguard as a night guard, because sports guards are widely available and affordable. However, this option is not optimal because a sports guard is likely to be thicker and more cushioning, yet less hard and therefore less able to stand up to grinding. Also, these guards may be quite difficult to sleep with since they're so bulky. 5. Possible Side Effects In some cases, a poorly made night guard could interfere with your bite by changing how your teeth fit together all night, every night. Your dentist's professionally fitted night guard is less likely to interfere with your bite. It's a thin material that won't force your jaw into an open position or keep your teeth from fitting together normally. These considerations can help you choose a night guard that's likely to work for your situation. If you find that you struggle with the first night guard you try, don't give up. Talk to your dentist about which option you should try next. Schedule an appointment with Silver Lake Family Dental today to discuss your dental needs with your friendly local dentist.
