If your teeth are sensitive after eating hot and cold foods and it goes right away, then the first sensitive tooth treatment you should try is brushing a few weeks with a desensitizing toothpaste such as Sensodyne or Denquel. However, it sometimes takes a few months to desensitize your teeth.

          A prescription flouride gel, such as PerioMed, works even better as a sensitive tooth treatment. Before going to bed each night, place a small amount of PerioMed onto a toothbrush and brush it into the exposed root surfaces near the gums. Do not drink or eat anything after applying the PerioMed. Sometimes we make a custom thin plastic cover that the patient wears at night with the prescription flouride gel placed inside.

          Most of a tooth is made of a hard material called dentin. Dentin has thousands of microscopic pores with very small nerves running through them and these pores are called dentin tubules. The body normally covers dentin. Teeth can become hot and cold sensitive if the dentin is unnaturally exposed due to periodontal disease. In this case the sensitive tooth treatment should include periodontal disease treament. Tooth grinding is treated with a soft lower dental grinding appliance. Years ago dental hygienists used to believe that sensitive teeth were due to brushing too hard. Today most toothbrushes are made with soft tufts with rounded edges. Most of the time if nothing else appears wrong, the sensitive teeth are due to unknown grinding.

          Sensitive teeth can also come from dental cavities and sinus infections. Cavities must be filled and sinus infections can usually be taken care of with antibiotics such as tetracycline 500 milligrams for 10 days. A chipped or fractured tooth can also cause sensitive teeth. The sensitive tooth treatment for both of these problems is for the dentist to restore the tooth with a filling or crown.

         If the pain of your sensitive teeth does not go away immediately, there may be an underlying serious problem. You should consider having sensitive tooth treatment performed by a knowledgeable dentist. If you are considering having professional sensitive tooth treatment done and want to talk to Dr. Padolsky, please make an appointment by calling  404-874-7428.