Trying to stay looking young? Start with your teeth!

If dental sensitivity is something that keeps you up at night or gives you headaches, have you wondered yet if you’ve been grinding your teeth? Our dentists in Garden Grove frequently work with patients to correct grinding habits and subsequently protect your teeth for longer.

The thing about grinding is this, it’s not just something that’s going to cause headaches. If you grind or clench your teeth – you make wake up with a headache, but it can also contribute to earaches, sore facial muscles, and problems with the temporomandibular joint – which connects your jaw to the rest of your skull. If you do grind your teeth, the smart idea is to have an easy conversation with your dentist. Remember: the prevention is always easier than the cure.

Unfortunately, we don’t exactly know what causes grinding – otherwise known as bruxism. Many times, it can come about in young children who are experiencing pain or discomfort from ailments like the common cold, allergies, or an ear infection. However, when it comes to adults – habitual grinding has no specific known cause. But it has been known to be loosely tied to sleep problems and dental problems ranging from crooked teeth to an abnormal bite.

In most cases, the typical treatment our dentists at Primary Dental Care in Garden Grove recommend is a custom mouth guard that’s been made of a soft material that fits over your teeth at night. This helps eliminate most of the pressure that comes from grinding and clenching.  In other, less serious cases – simple stress reduction techniques may be your best bet.

It might be winter in some parts of the country, but if your teeth ever feel cold there might be something else wrong.

Sensitive teeth that feel cold aren’t uncommon. However, the important thing to remember is that there’s a difference between teeth that feel cold and sensitive, and teeth that have decayed or been subject to gum disease.

If your teeth are just sensitive, your best bet will be to talk to your dentist. Our dentists in Garden Grove frequently consult with patients who have sensitive teeth on ways to keep their teeth healthy (and comfortable). What we recommend to you depends on what’s causing your sensitivity.

Mind your enamel…

Enamel is the hard outer layer of your teeth that protect them from the outside world. It takes a while to do, but dental enamel can actually be worn away. When this happens, nerve endings are exposed – which can result in different feelings of sensitivity.

Don’t brush too hard

The good thing is, you can usually stop the sensitivity in its tracks. First, try not to brush too hard. Hold your toothbrush like you would hold your pencil – and brush more carefully. On top of this – make sure you use a soft-bristled tooth brush. A hard toothbrush is not going to help sensitivity.

Stop clenching. If you grind your teeth or clench your jaw, the stress it causes can very frequently contribute to dental sensitivity. Your dentist should be able to see evidence of this at your regular dental exam – and it could be fixed by a retainer. On the positive side, this can also help eliminate other issues – like snoring  and morning headaches.

Cool it with the bleaching. If you’re chasing the dream of sparkling white teeth – do be careful. TOo much bleaching can potentially lead to heightened sensitivity. If this is a problem – talk to your dentist about in-office teeth whitening, it might be a better alternative for sensitive teeth.

What if it’s not just sensitivity?

Dental sensitivity is fairly common, but the underlying cause isn’t always as mundane as overbrushing or clenched teeth. Sometimes, it could be tied to an underlying infection or deeper dental problem. For this reason, it’s important to remain aware of any changes to your dental health – and communicate them to your dentist at your regular – bi-annual dentist appointments.