8 Ways to Relieve Tooth Sensitivity

About 1 in 8 people have sensitive teeth, according to a study in the March 2013 issue of the Journal of American Dentistry. If you’ve chalked your sensitive teeth up to either bad luck or bad genetics, you might want to think again: There’s a good chance that your dental dilemmas are being triggered by improper brushing or too many sugary drinks.

First, some background: Our teeth are coated with an outer, protective layer of enamel, then another, inner layer of dentin, says Ana Paula Ferraz-Dougherty, DDS, a dentist at Rolling Oaks Dental in San Antonio, Texas, and a national spokeswoman for the American Dental Association (ADA). When the enamel on our teeth wears down, we’re especially susceptible to very hot, cold, sweet, and acidic foods and drinks, which work their way through the tiny tubules in the dentin and irritate the underlying nerves. When this happens, you might feel a shocking sensation that can radiate through the tooth for moments to hours.

The good news: There are steps you can take to ease and prevent tooth sensitivity. Here are eight strategies that work.

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