We often consume cold foods and drinks as well as hot ones. Hypersensitivity of the teeth and gums to such foods is a rather unpleasant problem. So what should you do if you have a particular sensitivity to cold and/or hot foods?
If teeth are cared for, they will always have an attractive appearance. If the teeth are healthy, they will allow one to bite and chew food without pain for their owner. Only teeth that a person takes care of will allow one to always be comfortable. This is why people consistently brush their teeth and visit dentists. However, no matter how good dental care is done, at one point a person may feel a lot of pain if they eat a cold or hot meal. If this happens, chances are that the teeth are suffering from hyperesthesia – high sensitivity to external factors. The cause may be destruction of the enamel. If the pain comes from sudden temperature changes, it is indicative of grade 1 hyperesthesia. It is necessary to visit a dental clinic as soon as possible before the problem gets worse. The dentist will quickly find the causes of the problem, and then eliminate those causes.
Hyperesthesia – Teeth Sensitiveness
Hyperesthesia is an over-sensitivity to external stimuli, such as sudden temperature changes, chemical stimuli, or regular touching. These irritating factors can lead to short-term but severe pain sensations. Initially, the teeth react to the temperature of the food, but later on, the pain is also caused by the mere touch of the tongue or by exposure to certain substances. There is a momentary pain, which goes away quickly. Sometimes it does not go away even up to 10-30 seconds.
If the structure of the tooth is so destroyed that the nerve endings are exposed, then the person will experience pain from simply touching the area with the tongue or finger. Tooth enamel is the strongest tissue in the human body. It helps protect the dentin from any external stimuli. If the enamel is damaged, any external factors will cause great discomfort. If the dentin is compromised, even the lightest touch will cause extreme pain.
Special studies have been conducted that show that one in three people in the world today suffers from hyperesthesia, regardless of their location, social status or lifestyle. However, statistics have shown that women suffer from this disorder more often than men.
Prevention
Many people believe that brushing twice or three times a day is enough, and they will always be fine. However, this is a common misconception! If you brush your teeth improperly, not only will they not get stronger, but, on the contrary, they can be severely damaged. For example, the high abrasive content in toothpaste will cause your enamel to thin.
The best solution is to buy a fluoride toothpaste that has a medium level of abrasiveness. Studies have been able to reveal why men are less likely to get this condition. The fact that stress seriously impairs the function of the gastrointestinal tract. Because of this changes the acidity of the mouth. Because of frequent exposure to acid, they become highly sensitive to irritants, which leads to severe pain, which is a lot of discomfort.
To avoid hyperextension, you need to brush your teeth daily and try to protect yourself from stress as much as possible.
Toothaches Caused by Hot and Cold Foods
If your teeth respond with a painful reaction when you eat such foods, it means that your tooth enamel is the problem. When the enamel is healthy, the tooth structure is well protected from extreme temperature changes. If your teeth are responding with pain to eating, you should visit your dentist immediately to determine the cause. Here are a few reasons that cause such pain:
- Inflammation of the tissues;
- Disturbed structure in the enamel;
- Non-carious lesions;
- Cracks have occurred;
- Due to severe stress, the enamel has thinned.
By the way, it happens that such pains are caused by the endocrine system, or they can be caused by a stomach disease. It is necessary to reconsider your eating habits. It is necessary to reduce the use of dishes with too high and low temperature, and be careful to drink sour juices. A straw should be used for this purpose.
Tooth Sensitivity After a Visit to the Dentist
Only trustworthy dental clinics should be visited. If the doctor does not have the proper skills and professionalism, hyperesthesia can occur due to his actions. The most common cause of the condition is due to the following procedures:
- Cleaning and whitening of the dental cavity;
- Filling with a photopolymerization procedure;
- Acid etching.
After any whitening procedure, special enamel protection must be done. However, if you experience pain after teeth whitening when eating high or low temperature foods, it means that the procedure was not done or was not done as it should have been done.
A filled tooth has become very sensitive to high and low temperature foods after surgery, then it could mean:
- Some inflamed tissue was never removed;
- Inflammation of the tissue has occurred;
- The doctor did not follow the technology, so the integrity of the filling was compromised during the installation process;
- The material of the filling irritates the tissue due to individual intolerance;
- There is an air bubble under the filling.
Unfortunately, in almost all of the above cases, the pain will not go anywhere, but will get worse. If the pulp overheats, pulpitis can develop, leading to damage to other tissues. If your teeth have been reacting strongly to temperature changes for a long time, then you need to address this problem as soon as possible.
As for tooth pulping, it is normal if the tooth reacts sharply to cold and hot food after the procedure. If after some time the pain is still there, then you need to go to a dental clinic, because there is a chance that the tooth was not finished.
How to Avoid Hyperesthesia
To avoid hyperesthesia, you need to take regular care of your tooth enamel. Here are some simple rules to help keep your enamel healthy:
- Brush your teeth every day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste. But you should avoid toothpaste that contains abrasives;
- Brush your teeth with a brush of medium hardness. You should brush your teeth carefully, but not too hard;
- It is also important to consume foods that contain calcium and phosphorus. But you should eat less sweets;
- You should not eat very hot or cold food. If you drink a hot beverage, you should avoid getting it on your teeth.
If you have a toothache, you need to visit a qualified dentist to find out the causes and then fix them. If there is nothing wrong with your teeth, you should still go to the dentist’s office every six months for preventive care. If your teeth are fine, going to the dentist’s office will just be a pleasant walk.