Sensitive tooth necks
Sensitive necks of teeth are particularly noticeable in everyday life when eating hot or cold food. But even in winter, breathing in the cold air can cause a painful pulling sensation in the mouth. Various diseases can be behind the symptoms. Therefore, it is important to see the dentist early.
What are sensitive tooth necks?
Healthy teeth are protected from external influences by the enamel. This usually extends to the edge of the gums. When the gums recede, the teeth are unprotected. To be more precise, the tooth root is affected when the gums recede. This is initially covered by a layer, which, however, quickly loses its function in everyday life through chewing food and brushing your teeth.
The exposed dentin is traversed by a large number of canals containing nerve fibers. These ensure that received stimuli reach the pulp of the tooth, causing pain . An unprotected tooth neck can lead to the canals being opened. The pain is triggered by external stimuli, especially heat, cold, pressure and by foods containing acid and sugar .
causes
Various factors are responsible for the development of exposed and therefore very sensitive tooth necks. Chronic inflammation is particularly often responsible for the symptoms. This can be caused by viruses , fungi or bacteria , for example . The main cause is usually insufficient oral hygiene, which allows the pathogens to multiply and attack the gums.
Inflammation of the gums is manifested by bleeding, swelling and bad breath . As a result of the disease, the gums recede, which ultimately results in sensitive tooth necks. However, receding gums also occur with increasing age or are caused by improper tooth brushing. Too much pressure from the toothbrush, usually in combination with an unsuitable toothpaste, causes the gums to gradually recede and at the same time the root surface of the tooth is eliminated.
Ultimately, those affected often enter a vicious circle as soon as the pain occurs. Due to the existing complaints, the toothbrush is used less often, which in turn offers bacteria an optimal breeding ground to multiply. The existing problems can become even more intense.
Diseases
- receding gums
When to the doctor?
The sensitivity to pain is very individual for each person. In particular, pain in the jaw and teeth is experienced as extremely intense. They are among the pains in the body that people experience most severely. For many people, the experience of pain is offset by the fear of going to the dentist.
Sensitive tooth necks are perceived as uncomfortable and painful. Yet they motivate few people to see a doctor. If there are no other complaints, this is not necessary from a medical point of view. In most cases, those affected avoid triggering stimuli and change the way they clean their teeth.
If the sensitivity increases, a dentist should still be consulted. The risk of further damage increases. In most cases, the necks of the teeth are sealed once with a special fluoride varnish. The sealing lasts for a few weeks or months.
If there are other symptoms related to the sensitive tooth necks, a doctor should be consulted. If the gums begin to bleed or the gums recede noticeably, there is a risk of further diseases or defects. These must be clarified professionally. In the case of loosening of the teeth or a tooth displacement taking place, the dentist’s control is also necessary. In the event of accidents or impacts that have led to tooth fractures, further non-visible damage must be clarified by a dentist.
diagnosis and course
Hypersensitive tooth necks are particularly evident after consuming hot or cold foods or foods that contain a lot of acid or sugar. The stimuli are transmitted to the exposed canals, taking them to the nerve within the tooth. This converts the stimulus into a pain impulse and forwards it to the brain. The pain is felt. However, it is just as possible that the receding gums in the early stages are not even noticed by the person concerned, but are only noticed during a check-up by the dentist.
In advanced stages, a sensitive tooth neck is usually clearly visible from the outside due to the recession of the gums. However, there can sometimes be doubts as to whether there is an exposed tooth or one that is just a little longer. Then a detailed anamnesis helps , in which the patient should describe his brushing habits in detail. In addition, he should be able to state in the case of existing complaints when they were first noticed. The color and thickness of the gums are recorded, as are any injuries.
complications
One of the complications of sensitive tooth necks is an unpleasant sensation of pain. This can occur when ingesting cold, hot, sweet, or sour foods or drinks. In severe cases, the pain in the sensitive necks of the teeth also occurs when cleaning the teeth or eating food and drinks. For some people, this can lead to decreased food intake. This results in weight loss and can trigger eating disorders .
If the person concerned wears braces or has elements of the denture in the mouth, these can also cause pain. Sensitive tooth necks often lead to the affected person feeling them more often with their tongue. This triggers further pain. Various anxiety symptoms can be caused by the sensitive necks of the teeth. Since sensitive tooth necks can lead to reduced tooth cleaning, consequences are to be expected.
Viruses and bacteria multiply in the mouth and throat. Dental diseases such as caries or periodontal disease occur. The sensitive tooth necks can make the patient afraid of visiting a dentist. Concerns about further complaints or more intense pain prevent him from doing so. If the affected person deals intensively with the sensitive tooth necks, further psychological problems can occur. The pain increases and new ones appear.
treatment and therapy
The primary focus of therapy is pain relief. In most cases, treatment by the dentist is not necessary. Instead, those affected can use home remedies that are effective in a large proportion of cases. These include, for example, the use of toothpaste that contains fluoride. This forms a protective layer around the exposed teeth. The open nerve fibers are enveloped and the incoming stimuli blocked, which means that patients no longer feel pain.
In addition, the application of tea tree oil or chamomile extract helps . Patients with sensitive tooth necks should prefer to use toothbrushes with soft bristles and avoid toothpastes that have a whitening effect. If there is gingivitis, it is important to eliminate the existing pathogens. The only thing that helps here is proper oral hygiene, consisting of regular tooth brushing, rinses and possibly certain ointments.
Dentists are increasingly turning to hydrogen peroxide-based agents. Gargling with chamomile tea can also have a supportive effect. In addition to home remedies , dentists use a variety of methods. The use of potassium salts is intended to reduce the transmission of pain. In addition, the channels can be sealed by mechanical methods. Here, a fluoride varnish or plastic is increasingly used, which closes the open channels. Certain toothpastes or special varnishes and gels achieve the same effect.
outlook and prognosis
In the case of sensitive tooth necks, an increase in symptoms can be expected without treatment and medical care. The sensitivity in the mouth area increases and often spreads through the gums or the nerve tracts. In addition, new symptoms appear, so that there is a gradual deterioration in well-being and thus in the general state of health. If the person concerned accepts medical help, there are very good chances of improvement and healing. The treatment does not require much effort and immediately leads to an alleviation of the symptoms. Despite the good prognosis provided by medical care, regular check-ups and follow-up treatment are necessary in most cases .
Continuous aftercare is necessary to refresh the protective measures that have been initiated. With the current medical status, there is no one-off, permanent solution. If the person concerned suffers from bone loss, the treatment plan is more extensive. Ultimately, tooth replacement methods cannot be avoided and surgical interventions are necessary to eliminate the symptoms. In the case of inflammation, there are good chances of healing. The spread of the inflammation can be stopped with medication within a few weeks. After the triggering cause has been successfully combated, support is given to regenerate the damage to the gums and the necks of the teeth are treated to reduce their sensitivity.
prevention
The prevention of sensitive tooth necks includes in particular optimal oral hygiene. In addition to regular brushing of the teeth, the technique should also be right. This can reduce the overgrowth of bacteria and other pathogens, reducing the likelihood of developing inflammation. In addition, it can be useful to use a toothpaste that already contains fluoride.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.