Around 40 million adults suffer from tooth sensitivity issues. These problems cause sudden sensations to cascade through the mouth when you subject your teeth to extremely cold or hot substances. The sensations are often sharp and painful, and most people avoid both high and low temperature foods to avoid this discomfort. However, this is not a long term solution to the issue. If you are looking for long term relief, then read on.

Thicken The Tooth Enamel

Most people will have a fairly thick layer of dental enamel that covers each and every tooth. This enamel is thickest around the cusp of the tooth where it is around 2.5 millimeters thick. The enamel thins out from the cusp until it reaches the edge of the tooth at the gum line. Many people retain this thick layer of dental enamel all throughout their lives. However, some individuals will allow the enamel to demineralize at a fairly consistent rate. Demineralization and cavity formation will occur when you eat carbohydrates. If left on the teeth, these carbohydrates will allow bacteria to feed and they will release acidic materials that eat through the dental enamel. This thins it. Thinning also occurs when you consume acidic foods. 

Some people will also naturally have thin enamel. The enamel may form thin during childhood due to a condition called Amelogenesis imperfecta. This can cause teeth to be both sensitive and brittle. When the enamel is thin, the dentin becomes exposed. The tooth dentin contains small openings or tubes that lead to the internal tooth pulp. These tubes contain nerves, and you will feel strong sensations from the nerves when the tubules are exposed. 

Eat The Right Foods

You can help to stop the strong sensations from coming from the dentin by helping your teeth remineralize. Remineralization is the process where minerals are absorbed by the teeth to thicken the dental enamel. Minerals like A, D, E, and K are needed for remineralization. This means you should consume foods every day that contain these vitamins so tooth enamel can thicken naturally. Eat sweet potatoes, carrots, and squash for vitamin A, and consume milk, cheese, or yogurt to increase vitamin D. Almonds, swiss chard, and spinach will provide you with vitamin E, and you should eat kale, brussel sprouts, and asparagus for vitamin K. 

Since the minerals that are needed to thicken the dental enamel are fat soluble varieties, make sure to eat some healthy fats so the minerals can be absorbed by the body. Fish and lean meats contain healthy fats and so do vegetable oils and nuts. You should also try to consume food items that contain phytic acid. This acid will help the body to absorb the minerals your teeth need, so make sure to eat legumes, whole grains, and seeds every day.

Ask For A Flouride Varnish

A fluoride varnish is a highly concentrated form of fluoride that is applied to the teeth. The varnish contains a salt or silane fluoride preparation that is mixed with alcohol or resin so it dries quickly on the teeth. Once the material hardens, it releases fluoride into the teeth over an extended period of time. The fluid protects the teeth from demineralization by reducing the amount of acidic substances that can wear away the dental enamel. It also reduces the number of cavity causing bacteria that sit around the teeth. Fluoride also speeds up remineralization by pulling the minerals into the dental enamel that are needed to strengthen it. 

Fluoride varnishes are a good choice if you want to permanently reduce dental sensitivity concerns. You may want to alternate varnishes with the use of fluoride gels or foams, so make sure to ask your dental professional about this. Also, consider using toothpastes for sensitive teeth after receiving the fluoride varnish. It will take some time for remineralization to occur and the paste will reduce painful sensations in the meantime. To learn more about dental related issues, click here for additional info.