Is Your Ice Cream Trying to Warn You? What Cold Means for Tooth Pain
If eating ice cream makes your teeth hurt, don’t ignore it: call your family dentist in Cincinnati. The same goes for tooth pain when eating or drinking anything cold or hot: ice water, ice, hot chocolate, piping hot soup. You’ve got a sensitive tooth, which means there’s something going on with your teeth that you really should get checked out.
What is Tooth Sensitivity?
If your gums have receded, you have a cavity, or the protective enamel on your tooth wears too thin, microscopic tubes in the layer of tooth just below the enamel are exposed. As the tissues within these cells are stimulated by hot or cold sensations, it hurts more than it should. Sometimes, it can become so sensitive that even a breath of cold air can cause tooth pain. That’s bad news for braving Cincinnati winters!
Your enamel may also have cracks in the surface. Extreme temperatures can cause these cracks to expand or contract, which can expose sensitive areas even more and increase pain.
Can It Be Treated?
Yes! You can help treat sensitivity at home, but it’s still important to visit your Cincinnati dentist for a complete checkup. He or she may suggest:
- Desensitizing toothpaste
- Gum graft
- Root canal
- Crown, inlay, or dental bonding
- Nighttime mouthguard
- Cavity filling
- Fluoride gel
Treatment You Can Do at Home
There’s plenty you can do on your own to address tooth sensitivity (after you’ve called your Cincinnati dentist for a visit, of course!).
First, switch to a soft toothbrush (look for the word “soft” directly on the package). This is a good idea regardless of whether you have sensitive teeth. Soft bristles help maintain the enamel and the gum line, and can even reach areas that firm brushes can’t. Our dental office always recommends that our patients use a soft toothbrush.
You may even want to try a toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth, such as the Crest Pro-Health Sensitive Shield toothpaste. These toothpastes cover up exposed dentinal tubules to prevent cold and hot foods from stimulating the tooth.
Some people find a lukewarm salt water rinse soothing on sensitive teeth. Others swear by applying clove oil, aloe vera, coconut oil, or honey, or by applying a warm (not hot) peppermint or green tea bag.
Life’s Too Short to Avoid Ice Cream
You don’t have to live with sensitive teeth. Your family dentist is right here in Cincinnati to help find the right solution so you can enjoy your favorite foods again — pain-free.