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Tooth sensitivity can be a real annoyance, especially during the summer months when you’re likely to be exposed to hot and cold temperatures. Hot weather alone is unlikely to cause issues with your teeth, but there are certain activities that may increase your risk of suffering from tooth sensitivity while enjoying the warm weather.
No one likes dental pain and tooth sensitivity can be a real bummer. So let’s talk about what you can do to keep your teeth feeling their best.
Unfortunately, lots of people experience tooth sensitivity on their teeth in the summer, and maybe it comes and goes, but it’s definitely not something to ignore, because it’s your teeth trying to tell you something. And the two main reasons lots of people noticed this tooth sensitivity in the summer are.
Cold Sensitivity
Because oftentimes we expose our teeth to different cold sensations such as popsicles, ice cream, slushies, and even drinks with ice in them like a cold refreshing lemonade in the shade. So there’s that cold food and drink.
Teeth Whitening
I know everyone’s been saying hot girl, hot boy, hot person summer. And on that note, lots of people tend to whiten their teeth in the summer because there are lots of summer events, right barbecues, parties, weddings, photos, and a lot of people want that bright white smile, so they whiten their teeth.
But whitening is another huge reason your teeth might be feeling more sensitive than normal.
Why Does This Happen?
Why are our teeth extra sensitive to the cold anyway? Cold sensitivity, whether it’s due to whitening or not, is often caused by gum recession, receding gums, you might have heard of it before, it’s when your gums have pulled away from your tooth and now your root surface is exposed and your root surface has pores and the pores are nice and open welcoming in the gold. These pores also called tubules are covered by enamel on the crown of your tooth, so they are blocked. But with gum recession, like I said your route is exposed.
There’s no enamel blocking it there so they can feel extra sensations such as when cold touches it, which often happens in the summer months due to our food and beverage choices.
Stop Sensitive Teeth From Ruining Your Summer
How do we make it better? If your cold sensitivity is caused by gum recession, you can try three different things to treat it:
Stop Whitening
If you’re using any type of whitening product, please stop. You may want to only widen every other day instead of daily or even ask your dental provider for a slightly different concentration of teeth whitening product or simply discontinue whitening your teeth for the summer.
Switch Your Toothpaste
Don’t use whitening toothpaste either you should actually try to use sensitivity toothpaste if you’ve been having sensitivity and the sensitivity mouthwash as well it can’t hurt it can only help.
Use Sensitivity Products
I’d recommend using sensitivity products. And like we said with gum recession, your pores and tubules are open. And so what sensitivity products do is they clog those pores for you. So the cold is no longer invited. And the ingredient you want to look for the ingredient that’s actually clogging these pores for you is called potassium nitrate. Potassium nitrate will block the cold sensations by clogging your tooth pores again in a good way.
I know clogging pores doesn’t sound good if you’re talking about skincare but with teeth we’re talking teeth here, filling up your pores your tubules is good. It protects your teeth from that cold feeling no longer inviting in the cold. So look for sensitivity products that contain potassium nitrate.
Visit Your Dentist
If you’ve tried all of the sensitivity products already and you’re still experiencing tooth sensitivity, you can ask your dental provider if they have any in-office treatments available. Some offices may offer a fluoride varnish treatment, which can provide you with months of sensitivity relief. And of course, they can also examine your teeth to determine exactly what’s causing the sensitivity.
Conclusion
As I said most of the time it is caused by gum recession, but there are cases when it could be due to other things such as enamel erosion, orthodontics, large fillings, new crowns, so I can’t say it enough how important it is to visit your dental provider to determine the cause of sensitivity so then you could properly treat it.
Don’t worry your hot girl hot boy hot person summer will live on and you can still enjoy your favorite cold summer treats. Just make sure you try one or more of these sensitivity-relief tips. If you’re experiencing sensitivity, stop whitening your teeth, use sensitivity products with potassium nitrate, and see your dentist.
Applying fluoride to prevent tooth sensitivity
As an enthusiast with expertise in dental hygiene, I am excited to discuss the concept of applying fluoride to prevent tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity is a common dental problem that results from the exposure of the underlying dentin layer, which contains tiny tubules connecting the nerve endings to the tooth’s surface. This exposure can cause discomfort, pain or a tingling sensation. One effective way to avoid tooth sensitivity is by using fluoride treatment, which not only prevents tooth sensitivity but also protects against cavities.
Fluoride is a natural mineral found in many food items and might be added to your drinking water. It works by remineralizing and strengthening your teeth, making it much more resistant to decay and conditions that cause sensitivity. Fluoride treatment can take many forms, from gels, toothpaste, and mouthwash to in-office applications that involve the use of high concentrations of fluoride to boost the enamel’s strength.
The application of fluoride is a safe and straightforward procedure that usually takes a couple of minutes at the dentist’s office. The dentist applies a fluoride gel or foam to your teeth, which typically takes a few minutes to set. After that, you will not be allowed to eat, drink, or rinse your mouth for up to 30 minutes. This period is to allow the fluoride to absorb into your teeth properly.
In conclusion, applying fluoride to prevent tooth sensitivity is an excellent choice for anyone aiming to keep their oral health optimal. Fluoride is very effective at protecting against cavities and strengthening teeth while preventing sensitivity. Whether you get your fluoride through toothpaste, mouthwash, or regular visits to the dentist, you can trust that it will help protect your smile for years to come. Remember to keep up with your dental hygiene routine and speak to your dentist if you have any more concerns about fluoride treatment.
