A Tooth Sensitivity Treatment Guide For Ice Cream Lovers

If you have sensitive teeth, there's a good chance that eating ice cream makes you want to scream. But suffering from tooth sensitivity shouldn't hold you back from enjoying the cold, creamy treats you love. Follow the tips in this guide, and you'll be savoring your next scoop of ice cream—without the pain.

Choose the Right Toothpaste for Your Sensitive Teeth

You may be surprised to learn that many whitening toothpastes cause tooth sensitivity. Though these products are often tempting to use, the ones containing peroxide are problematic for individuals with sensitive teeth.

Fortunately, there are whitening toothpaste options designed specifically for the 12 percent of people who suffer from tooth sensitivity. So if you're using whitening toothpaste, make sure it's designed for sensitive teeth.

Have Your Fillings Checked

If you still experience discomfort while eating ice cream—even after using toothpaste made for sensitive teeth—you may have one or more cracked or loose fillings. If your sensitive teeth have fillings, ask a dentist to inspect your fillings to see if a root canal procedure is necessary to treat the sensitivity.

If you need to have a root canal procedure performed, the damaged pulp will be removed, the tooth disinfected, and the filling replaced. Additionally, contrary to what many believe, root canal procedures are pain-free. The real discomfort associated with a root canal is the pain caused by the infection in the tooth. And the root canal procedure treats the infection to remove the pain. So don't hesitate to have this safe procedure performed when necessary.

Protect Your Teeth While You Sleep

Have you been told that you grind your teeth at night? Or perhaps you wake up each morning with sore teeth and suspect that you grind them in your sleep? This type of grinding is called bruxism. When left untreated, bruxism wears away tooth enamel, which increases the odds of teeth being sensitive to cold foods like ice cream.

A dentist will check to see if your tooth enamel has been worn away and also whether it is the cause of your tooth sensitivity. If bruxism is the cause, the dentist will create a custom mouth guard for you to wear at night. This guard will protect your teeth from damage in the future.

Don't let sensitive teeth sap the joy out of your next scoop of ice cream. Follow the tips in this guide—and don't hesitate to speak with a dentist or click for more information about treating your sensitive teeth and restoring your ability to enjoy ice cream without pain.