Love eating ice cold food but hate the tooth sensitivity sensation?

Dr Gordon Tam • April 3, 2020

The quality of life you always look forward to...  One of them will be able to enjoy the food you like without worrying about getting a 'shock' sensitive feeling whenever you eat.

What is tooth sensitivity?

Have you almost jumped off your chair when you drink a gulp of ice, cold water after your exercise? Or even when you grasp a breath of cold air? Tooth sensitivity is an annoying sensation that no one wished to have. In order to tackle this problem, we need to find out what causes it. 

Our tooth is made up of 3 layers. The most outer layer is a hard, protective layer known as the enamel. It helps our teeth to take on biting, eating and chewing, from our daily food, snacks to even our fingernails! The importance of this layer also prevents the temperature to reach our nerves, causing us to jump in pain suddenly. However, this enamel layer will wear and tear through the years and especially when we do not take good care of them. 

Small craze lines to bigger crack lines may start to develop as wear and tear progresses. Apart from feeling sensitivity to hot and cold food, impact when we eat and bite, bacteria can get in through these lines but your toothbrush can’t. 

Decay will start to develop, causing more pain and discomfort.

Causes


  • Wear and tear due to teeth grinding during sleep
  • Facial or oral trauma 
  • Exposure of roots of the tooth possibly due to heavy brushing
  • Tooth decay
  • Ill-fitting or defective dental filling
  • Cracked tooth
  • Gum disease
  • Teeth whitening (temporary)

Treatments


  • Protection of your teeth through wearing a nightguard to sleep, to tackle your teeth grinding issue while you are sleeping
  • Use a soft-bristled toothbrush with correct brushing technique
  • Replace the dental filling
  • Consult and seek gum (periodontal) treatment to treat gum disease
  • Consult dentist on treatments for cracked tooth (eg. root canal treatment, crown)

When you can feel tooth sensitivity whenever you drink or eat hot and cold stuff or even pain on biting, it’s time for you to check with us. 


These craze lines and crack lines do not go away or recover by themselves. The last thing you want is not to be able to enjoy the food you love or the ice, cold beer with your friends on a hot afternoon!


You looked forward to indulge yourself with your favorite ice-cream. Early detection saves you from more discomfort and disruption to your quality of life. Talk to us to find out the various treatment options available that can solve your tooth sensitivity issue.

For more information and consultation, please contact Smile Design Dental Practice at +65 6463 8588.


To serve you better, we are available by Appointment Only. 

Please contact us to schedule for an appointment.

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