Summer’s icy cold treats like slushes and sodas make it fun to beat the heat. But sometimes those who have sensitive teeth would rather turn a cold shoulder to an ice cream cone than bear the pain of taking even one bite.

This sharp, sudden pain can be triggered by hot, cold, sweet or sour food and drinks – or even breathing cold air. The problem starts when enamel—the hard outer layer of a tooth—is eroded by coffee, tea, wine or other substances, revealing the dentin underneath. Or receding gums can expose the roots of a tooth.

In either case, heat or cold coming in contact with unprotected microscopic tubules sends a zap! of pain through the dentin directly to the sensitive pulp tissue at the center of a tooth.

Everyday causes of tooth sensitivity can include:
• Brushing too hard.
• Using a toothbrush that’s too hard.
• Grinding your teeth.
• Using teeth whitening products or toothpaste with baking soda and peroxide.
• Mouthwash use. Some contain acids that can further damage dentin if it’s already exposed.
• Eating acidic foods such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, pickles and tea.

Teeth can also become sensitive after a cleaning, getting a filling or replacing a crown. This sensitivity usually disappears in four to six weeks.

If you struggle with tooth sensitivity, your dentist can suggest changes in oral health care to decrease your sensitivity.

However, if you’ve never had a problem with hot or cold foods and you suddenly get a jolt, you may need to call your Emergency Dentist. You might have a problem that needs immediate care, such as:

• A cracked or broken tooth, which can leave dentin exposed. The tooth also can fill with bacteria that enter the pulp and cause inflammation.
• Gum disease, which exposes the roots that lead directly to the nerve of a tooth.
• Tooth decay near the gum line.
• Nerve damage to a root.

Emergency Dental Care USA is available is eight cities across the U.S. It offers extended office hours, including weekend hours, to take care of your emergency dental needs.

References:

www.webmd.com/oral-health/tooth-sensitivity
www.dentalgentlecare.com/sensitivity

As Little League kicks off throughout the nation , kids aren’t the only ones working up a sweat. Nervous parents, many who have shelled out thousands of dollars in orthodontic care, are sweating on the sidelines in fear that their children will end up with a mouth injury.

In honor of National Safety Month, the experts at Emergency Dental Care, a franchise with clinics throughout the United States, offer some tips for keeping your child’s smile intact.

- To minimize the chance of injuring their teeth, young athletes who participate in both contact and non-contact sports should wear custom-fitted mouth guards.

- Athletes should visit their dentist on a regular basis to check for unusual tooth wear.

- If the worst happens and a tooth is knocked loose or comes out, seek emergency dental treatment immediately.

- In the case of a tooth being knocked out, be careful not to touch the root. If the tooth is contaminated, rinse it gently with clean saline or water. Get to a dentist within 30 minutes.

“The reason you want a dentist to replant the tooth right away,” explains Emergency Dental Care’s founder, Dr. Michael Obeng, D.D.S., “is that once the tooth is out of the socket, the body is more likely to treat it as a foreign object. There’s a much better chance of saving the tooth if it’s out less than 30 minutes.”

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