Healthy Living: Tooth sensitivity

Fran Gensicki has suffered with painful tooth sensitivity since high school when her braces came off.

"Cold air in the winter. If I walk in the morning and breathing in hurts. Cold water,” said Gensicki.

Pain can sometimes be from sweets even warm fluids. When the gums recede, often the root of the tooth is exposed causing pain. Grinding your teeth can contribute to the problem as well as a cracked or decayed tooth, acidic foods don't help.

Gensicki said, "Anything that has a lot of acids in it. Some juices, soda's citrus products, orange juice, grapefruit juice a big one."

Brushing your teeth to hard will affect the gums.

General dentist Dr. Christian Mathiesen said, "If you are abrading the roots of the teeth, damaging the teeth."

Because most tooth paste products contain abrasives, some experts believe it is the tooth paste that is a contributing factor and they suggest leaving the paste behind and dip instead.

"Dipping the tooth brush in a dental rinse reduces sensitivity and the level of abrasion which is called an afraction,” said Dr. Mathiesen.

And using sensitive tooth pastes containing potassium nitrate, are not only effective, they are safe."

Brushing your teeth can contribute to receding gums, buy a tooth with soft bristles, do it thoroughly and gently or better yet, buy an electric tooth brush, this one oscillates, this one vibrates, both are effective.

If more relief is needed, most dentists provide higher grade process that may work for you.

"Bonding agents we place over a root, fluoride varnishes,” said Dr. Mathiesen.