10 Easy Natural Remedies for Tooth Sensitivity

If you have ever experienced significant discomfort or pain after a spoonful of hot soup or a bite of ice cream, then you may be suffering from tooth sensitivity. Do not panic; you are not alone in this. While pain from hot or cold food might indicate a cavity, people who have sensitive teeth also experience it.

Our teeth are our faces’ framework. They perform many functions. Our teeth beautify our smiles, and we use them to eat or drink. Sensitive teeth can prove to be one of the most painful things you will experience in your mouth. Without prior warnings, tooth sensitivity can hit you out of the blue. When the pain hits, you don’t have to grit your teeth and bear the agony. There are confirmed solutions for treating your sensitive teeth. Most of the solutions are stuff you can try at home, hence the natural remedies for tooth sensitivity. The pain from tooth sensitivity may arise each time you sip something too hot or too cold.

In this post, you will learn:

• Meaning of tooth sensitivity
• Causes of tooth sensitivity
• Symptoms of tooth sensitivity
• Outlook for tooth sensitivity
• Natural remedies for tooth sensitivity

What is Tooth Sensitivity?

One or more of your teeth can become sensitive when the protective layer of enamel wears down. You will experience pain from tooth sensitivity whenever you eat foods that are either too hot or too cold. When eating and drinking become highly uncomfortable, the reason for this discomfort could be a sensitive tooth. However, you should not freak out about this because it is relatively common and pretty treatable. Some natural remedies for tooth sensitivity will save you the cost and stress of going to the hospital.

Causes of Tooth Sensitivity

Causes of Tooth sensitivity

There are various reasons a particular person would develop a toothache from tooth sensitivity. To analyze this so everyone can easily understand, tooth sensitivity occurs when the dentin inside the tooth loses cementum or enamel. The enamel functions as the protective layer of the dentin, while the cementum is the outer layer. The effect of tooth sensitivity exposes the nerve endings of the tooth to the effects of high and low-temperature foods, acidic foods, and so on.

Most teeth become sensitive because the protective layer (enamel) is no longer there due to wear-out. This allows the dentin underneath to be more permeable, letting both gases and liquid easily pass through. In addition, the dental pulp exists under the dentin, and it contains many blood vessels and nerve endings. When cold or hot substances pass through these nerve endings, a person begins to experience pain.

The following are common factors that wear down the enamel and trigger tooth sensitivity:

• Dental procedures
• Teeth whitening treatments
• Grinding of the teeth, most especially during the night
• Worn-out tooth fillings
• Receding gums
• Broken tooth
• Tooth decay
• Damage of the enamel with a hard-bristled brush
• Eroding of the tooth by beverages and acidic foods

The majority of these factors are usually not hereditary. They occur as a result of poor choices of food and oral hygiene. Some people’s lifestyle does not keep them from experiencing pain from sensitive teeth. They consume a lot of sugar junk, and they are lazy about paying attention to their oral hygiene. In this case, the pain might be severe or not; however, the best thing to do is to consult your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist will recommend some lifestyle changes.

Sometimes, tooth sensitivity may result from other conditions. For instance, gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) can make acid come up from the esophagus and stomach, which may wear down the teeth over time. Likewise, conditions that trigger incessant vomiting– bulimia and gastroparesis – can make acid wear down the enamel.

Gum recession can expose sections of the tooth, and when that section has no protection, tooth sensitivity can occur.

Chipped teeth, broken teeth, tooth decay, and worn-down crowns or fillings can expose the tooth’s dentin, eventually resulting in insensitivity. However, if this is the case, you will most likely only feel the sensitivity in that particular region of the mouth or tooth rather than the majority of the teeth.

Your teeth may be sensitive for a while due to recent dental work like teeth bleaching, crowns, or getting fillings. In this case, the sensitivity will remain limited to one tooth or the teeth surrounding the particular tooth that received the dental work. The sensitivity should subside after some days.

Symptoms of Tooth Sensitivity

There are various symptoms of tooth sensitivity, but I will analyze a few to understand what to expect when you are suffering from the condition. Check out the following symptoms:

• Receding gums
• Increase in tooth sensitivity to acidic foods
• Redness or swelling of the gums
• Pain in the tooth when breathing in cold air

The following are further triggers of the condition:

• Hot foods and beverages
• Cold foods and beverages
• Sweet foods and beverages
• Coldwater, especially during routine dental cleanings
• Brushing or flossing of the teeth
• Alcohol-based mouth rinses

With the proper natural remedies for tooth sensitivity, your oral health will return to its normal and healthy condition.

Treating Tooth Sensitivity

If you are having difficulty eating anything because of tooth sensitivity, you should talk to your dentist about finding a permanent solution for it. Various mouthwashes and kinds of toothpaste can fight sensitivity in your local stores or over the counter. If they are ineffective, your dentist will recommend prescription mouthwash and toothpaste. However, the best treatment option is to consider natural remedies for tooth sensitivity. You should also visit or ring up your dentist if you experience symptoms of potential root damage or cavities so that you can receive quick treatment and prevent complications. These symptoms may include:

• Pain while chewing or biting down
• Staining on the surface of the teeth
• Sharper pain instead of milder pain
• Tooth sensitivity localized to a single tooth
• Spontaneous pain in the tooth that occurs without a known or apparent cause

10 Natural Remedies for Tooth Sensitivity

10 Natural Remedies for Tooth Sensitivity

In this section of the post, I will explore some natural remedies for tooth sensitivity and their science. Consider the following home remedies:

1. Oil Pulling

Oil pulling, with the assistance of coconut or sesame oil, can relieve tooth sensitivity. Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that originated in India. This practice involves swishing the oil around the mouth for minutes before spitting it out.

Research has revealed that sesame oil may relieve the symptoms of gum disease, known as gingivitis. In addition, daily coconut oil pulling can also reduce the markers of gingivitis and plaque formation. The benefits of oil pulling for curing the issue of gingivitis may, in turn, reduce the symptoms of tooth sensitivity. People who have gum recession due to gingivitis are often the victims of tooth sensitivity.

2. Guava Leaves

Chewing the leaves of a guava tree or using a topical gel that contains guava leaf extract may help reduce tooth sensitivity and pain. Extracts rich in guava flavonoids can soothe a toothache with the help of their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving properties. If you feel like you have tooth sensitivity, eating guava leaf can be an excellent remedy for the condition.

3. Clove Gel

For a long time, people have chosen clove gel to remedy the issue of toothache. Research has compared clove gel with topical benzocaine – gel dentists often use to numb a patient’s gums before inserting needles. The results reveal that clove gel might have the same relieving properties against needle pain as benzocaine gel. Therefore, applying clove oil or gel to the gums may help reduce tooth pain and sensitivity. Overall, scientists should carry out more research into the use of clove gel to find out its other benefits.

4. Garlic

Garlic is an old remedy for a range of health challenges. One of the myriad benefits of garlic is its ability to relieve the symptoms of a toothache. Chewing on a piece of garlic produces a compound known as allicin – this compound contains antimicrobial properties that may help kill bacteria that can cause oral diseases, such as Streptococcus mutans. The buildup of this disease around the gum and teeth can result in tooth decay. Fighting the bacteria creating this disease can slow down the decaying process and reduce tooth sensitivity.

5. Saltwater Rinse

Making a mouthwash out of salt water rinse is one of the most creative natural remedies for tooth sensitivity because salt fights bacteria in the mouth and improves oral hygiene. Saltwater rinses may be as effective as chlorhexidine mouthwash in reducing dental plaque. To make a saltwater rinse off your own, add half a teaspoon of salt to 8 ounces of warm water. Then pour the mixture into your mouth and swish the salt water around your mouth for a while before spitting it out. Remember, you are not supposed to drink saltwater. It’s meant for healing the tooth sensitivity you may be experiencing.

6. Capsaicin Gel

Capsaicin is often inside chili peppers, and it’s pretty spicy. Although this substance can cause a burning sensation when applied to the gums or skin, it can reduce pain. The topical application of the substance can help relieve some types of pain associated with tooth sensitivity. Scientists do not exactly know how this works. Still, they believe that the substance may numb nerve fibers, making the nerves slightly unable to deliver pain signals around the tooth sensitivity area. The topical application of capsaicin gel to the gums may alleviate pain resulting from sensitive teeth.

7. Turmeric

This yellow Ayurvedic remedy is famous for reducing inflammation. Turmeric is blessed with curcumin, which can help relieve pain. Turmeric plant extract is about as effective in relieving pain from knee osteoarthritis as ibuprofen. You can make a turmeric paste by mixing turmeric with water, and then you can rub it to the gums to help reduce tooth sensitivity and pain. However, no scientific research is yet available to support the effectiveness of turmeric against tooth sensitivity. Still, most people who have applied it to their gums have confessed to its tremendous power. Some have regarded turmeric as one of the most trusted natural remedies for tooth sensitivity.

8. Fluoride

You can use dental products that contain fluoride to help reduce the risk of cavities. The fluoride may also help minimize the rate and level of tooth sensitivity. Many fluoride products and preparations reduce tooth pain and sensitivity when people use them with desensitizing treatments. There are various forms of fluoride treatments suitable for your daily use. Those treatments include:

• Mouthwash
• Gel
• Toothpaste

9. Desensitizing Agents

Desensitizing toothpaste is special toothpaste that makes dentin less permeable. Dentin is that hard porous tissue beneath the enamel layer in teeth. When the dentin becomes less absorbent, it will be more difficult for liquid to pass through it. The reduction of the permeability protects the nerves underneath, which reduces tooth pain and sensitivity. Dental agents that desensitize include the following:

• Oxalates
• Potassium
• Metal ions

The use of desensitizing toothpaste that contains potassium is an excellent choice for people with tooth sensitivity.

10. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant and a mild antiseptic. Most people use it to sterilize burns, cuts, and other wounds to keep them from getting infected. You can also use hydrogen peroxide as a mouth rinse to prevent inflammation and heal gums. To use peroxide as a mouth rinse:

• Pour 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide into an equal volume of warm water
• Swish the solution in your mouth and leave it there for about 30 seconds
• Spit out the solution
• Then finally rinse your mouth with water to get rid of any remaining hydrogen peroxide

Final Thoughts

You don’t have to suffer from toothache, pain, and sensitivity. However, the natural remedies for tooth sensitivity already provided above will give you the relief you have most probably been praying and hoping for all this while.