Tooth sensitivity is one of the most common dental conditions out there. If you’ve ever eaten ice cream, or accidentally taken a large sip on a hot drink, you’ll have experienced what can be a peculiar type of discomfort.

But there are other factors causing tooth sensitivity, such as decay, gum disease, overzealous toothbrushing, and demineralisation of your tooth enamel.

 If you’ve seen a dentist and been given the all-clear for dental decay, gum disease and infection, but you still have sensitive teeth, you may want to try our simple tips below to banish dental sensitivity.

Replace your toothbrush

Sensitivity due to overenthusiastic brushing is a common issue, and in the majority of cases its hard-bristled manual brushes that are the culprits.

The abrasive bristles of a manual brush, coupled with the use of abrasive toothpastes can cause lingering sensitivity, not to mention gum recession. 

By simply swapping to an oscillating electric or sonic toothbrush, you can significantly reduce tooth sensitivity. These types of toothbrushes gently clean your teeth, and you need only hold the brush over the tooth and let it do the work for you (you don’t need to move it side to side for it to deliver an efficient and gentle clean).

Electric and sonic bristles are far softer than the bristles often found on manual brushes, so the brushing process is likely to become much more comfortable too.

No sensitivity + comfortable brushing = win-win.

Reduce your acidic food and drink intake

Acidic foods including citrus fruits and drinks, as well as tomatoes, certain yoghurt brands and pickled foods are proven to cause enamel erosion and consequently, sensitivity.

These foods aggressively wear your enamel, and once it’s gone, the softer material underneath it (dentine) is exposed. Unfortunately, dentin isn’t as resistant to decay and cavities as enamel, and after a certain degree of erosion, it becomes incredibly challenging to remineralise your teeth.

If you do love your acidic drinks, try drinking these through a straw to prevent contact with your teeth (white wine and champagne are good examples). Meanwhile, if you love your acidic foods, make sure you rinse your mouth with water afterwards to get rid of as much of the acid as possible.

You can also try consuming foods that will neutralise the acids in your mouth, such as milk and cheese.

Stop grinding your teeth

Tooth grinding may not seem like a significant dental problem, but it can lead to severe wear, accompanied by intense sensitivity over time.

If you’re struggling to train yourself to stop grinding your teeth, or you’re doing it at night when you can’t control it, a clinical mouth guard can act as a barrier separating your two tooth arches. These are the same types of mouth guard worn by those who partake in contact sports.

Key points to remember:

• Your tooth sensitivity might be something you can resolve at home without a dentist’s help.

• It’s a good idea to get your teeth checked over by a dentist in case the cause is something more serious (decay, a dental infection or gum disease).

• Be consistent with employing the points above if you want to resolve sensitivity and prevent it from happening in the future, or eroding your tooth enamel completely.