Tooth sensitivity is a major problem for many people. If you’re experiencing tooth sensitivity in Harriman, it’s important to schedule a dental exam to make sure that the pain in your tooth isn’t related to a serious problem like tooth decay, tooth infection, gum disease, or others. But many times tooth sensitivity isn’t related to any of that and has to be treated just as itself.
The Cause of Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity occurs when heat, cold, acid, or pressure are penetrating into the interior of the tooth where the nerve is located. The tooth enamel is supposed to protect the interior of the tooth, but there are many reasons why it might not. The enamel might be damaged by decay. It might be worn or eroded thin. It might be naturally thin. Your gums might have receded, exposing the root, which doesn’t insulate as well.
Or maybe the problem isn’t your enamel, it’s your dentin, the layer under the enamel. Dentin hypersensitivity is caused by passages that run through your dentin, called tubules. Tubules are formed as part of the creation of the dentin, and they help your dentin remain strong but flexible. But sometimes they can let too much heat and cold into your tooth. One common treatment for dentin hypersensitivity is to try to block these tubules with oxalates.
Natural Oxalates May Be an Alternative
Oxalates are used because some of them–like potassium oxalate–are water soluble while others–like calcium oxalate–aren’t. When oxalates react with the calcium in your teeth, they form calcium oxalate, which can block the tubules in your teeth to reduce sensitivity.
Normally, your teeth might be painted with artificial oxalates, but you can also add natural oxalates, known as oxalate phytocomplexes, to your diet. Some common foods that are high in these compounds include:
- Rhubarb
- Spinach
- Swiss chard
- Mint
- Beets
- Wheat bran
- Buckwheat flour
- Soy milk
- Miso
- Tahini and sesame seeds
- Almonds
Now, it’s important to talk to your doctor before trying this remedy. Eating too much of these can cause kidney stones (which are made of insoluble calcium oxalate), and people who are at high risk for kidney stones may need to avoid them.
But for most of us, adding a few more of these veggies to our diet might help with dentin hypersensitivity.
Want Help with Sensitivity?
If your teeth are sensitive, we can help you determine the cause, and help you find the best treatment, whether it’s home care, gum disease treatment, or reconstructive dentistry procedures like fillings or even root canal therapy.
Please call 845-783-6466 today for an appointment with a dentist at Harriman Family Dental.
