The area of your teeth above the gum line is coated with a layer of protective enamel. The roots beneath your gum line are kept safe with a substance called cementum. Beneath the enamel and cementum is the dentin. This is not as dense as the protective layers. As and when the enamel or cementum wears out or becomes damaged, it uncovers the dentin, causing tooth sensitivity.
Some well-known remedies
When
it comes to tooth sensitivity remedies, oil pulling through
sesame or coconut oil can help. Further, chewing guava leaves or applying a
topical gel which has guava leaf extract could also help decrease tooth
sensitivity and discomfort. Many people, especially in the earlier generations,
have used clove oil as a home remedy for tooth irritation. A saltwater rinse is
another alternative when fighting bacteria in the mouth, and it can help
promote oral hygiene.
Getting professional help
If
you want to know how to treat sensitive teeth, your best move would
be to consult a dentist and have the issue addressed immediately. Your dentist
may suggest a fluoride gel treatment, which can strengthen your current tooth
enamel. Other treatments could involve a crown, inlay, or bonding, depending on
the issue. If you have lost gum tissue from the root, your dentist might
suggest a surgical gum graft to cover up the roots, thus shielding the roots
from certain stimuli.
Desensitising the dentine layer
Dentin
is a tough, spongy tissue that lies under the coating of enamel. A
desensitising toothpaste has agents that can change the dentin and make it less
permeable. Desensitising dental mediators include oxalates, metal ions and
potassium. Most dentists will recommend that you should use a desensitising
toothpaste that has potassium. In some studies, oxalate extracts from rhubarb
and spinach applied to dentine discs that were taken from human molars showed
that these extracts could help ease tooth sensitivity.
How to prevent it from recurring?
If
you have been wondering about how to treat sensitive teeth, it starts with
certain measures that you can do at home. For example, just like we have all
heard from childhood, it is important and necessary to brush teeth twice a day,
using desensitising toothpaste. Further, flossing once a day can help in
preventing plaque formation in the tiny spaces between your teeth. Finally,
following a diet that is quite low on acidic foods and beverages also goes a
long way in preventing sensitive teeth. All these combined together are
recommended tooth sensitivity remedies.