Are sensitive teeth normal? Do toothpastes help? What can a dentist do to help with sensitivity? Patients ask us these questions frequently so Dr. Kuiper is here to clear up any misconceptions, confusions, and answer some of our questions.

Most people have experienced little zingers when something cold touches their teeth. As long as the tooth sensitivity that you experience is very rare and doesn’t happen frequently, that is completely normal! Your teeth are meant to feel hot and cold. Just like any other part of the body, hot and cold sensations are normal. This is actually your tooth’s way of protecting itself. That being said, however, when the sensitivity that you experience is constant, even with lukewarm food or a cool beverage, this is not normal and should not be happening. There are many over the counter products, such as sensitivity toothpastes, that may provide some relief but there are also many things that dentists can do to provide sensitivity relief as well. Sometimes the sensitivity is related to the natural aging process where more of the root is exposed. Other times, sensitivity can be caused by decay or periodontal disease that you may not know is present. In these circumstances, no matter what you do with Sensodyne, it will not help. It would be most beneficial in these situations to come in and let us diagnose the cause of the sensitivity. We want to help you feel the best that you can and eliminate all possible sources of sensitivity. That means we want you to be happy and healthy, and for you to be able to chew like normal without feeling pain or discomfort. 

Please give us a call if you’re having any sensitivity problems, and we would be happy to evaluate the source of your sensitivity and come up with some long term solutions for you.

Find us on YouTube!