Sensitive teeth are uncomfortable and inconvenient, especially if you’re in quarantine! What’s more, dental offices are currently only taking emergency appointments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, you may not have to see your dentist during quarantine or wait until stay at home orders are lifted to find relief for your tooth sensitivity. Learn what’s causing this troublesome symptom and how to tell if you need emergency dental care in Conway because of it.
What Causes Sensitive Teeth?
The hard case of enamel around your teeth protects the sensitive inner layers like the dentin, tooth pulp, and the tooth’s nerve. If the enamel is worn away, softened, or damaged, the inner layers will become aggravated by the outside elements and vulnerable to bacteria and debris. A variety of factors may cause this tooth sensitivity, including dental trauma, gum disease, or over-aggressive brushing. In quarantine, some bad habits like anxiously chewing on hard objects, mindlessly snacking, or grinding your teeth at night may cause your teeth to become sensitive.
Are Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency?
While tooth sensitivity is not an emergency on its own, it can indicate a larger issue that needs immediate care. Call your emergency dentist right away if:
- The sensitive tooth is chipped, cracked, dislodged, or visibly damaged.
- Your gums are inflamed and bleeding, or your teeth are loose or painful, which could point to severe gum disease.
- You are also experiencing a fever, swelling, a bad taste in your mouth, or other signs of serious infection.
If you’re unsure if your situation is a dental emergency, call your dentist anyway. They can help you decide if you need urgent care or not from over the phone.
Can I Treat Tooth Sensitivity at Home?
In most cases, you can treat sensitive teeth at home by:
- Using specialized dental products like desensitizing toothpastes, fluoridated mouthwashes, and toothbrushes with ultra-soft bristles.
- Quitting bad dental habits like chewing on fingernails, eating or drinking too many acidic items, and brushing your teeth with too much force.
- Changing your diet to rebuild your enamel, which may include eating more cheese, canned salmon, or broccoli for calcium and drinking more fluoridated tap water.
Gradually, these easy at-home treatments should correct your tooth sensitivity. However, if this irritating symptom is still bothering you once social distancing orders have been lifted, don’t hesitate to call your dentist.
About the Author
At American Dental Care in Conway, SC, we’ve always gone above and beyond to help patients through their dental emergencies as quickly and comfortably as possible. Your health and happiness are Dr. Tommy Murph’s top priority, which is why he encourages his patients to practice great oral hygiene at home to prevent a dental emergency now more than ever. However, please don’t hesitate to call if you need urgent care for a damaged, missing, or painful tooth. Once the stay at home orders have been lifted, he’d be more than happy to help you discover what’s causing your tooth sensitivity and create a custom plan to treat it. If you have any question or concerns about your tooth sensitivity, please contact him at his website or at (843) 488-4357.