Imagine biting into a fudge-covered ice cream treat only to have a sudden pain shoot through your incisors. Does this sound familiar to you? Is it something you avoid cold food and drinks because of? If so, there’s help. We at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs want all our patients to use their teeth with confidence. If a person is extremely sensitive to cold, they may be suffering from enamel erosion.
It is necessary when discussing tooth sensitivity to know a bit about dental anatomy. Dental pulp contains a nerve, and it is surrounded by a porous material called dentin. Heat is easily conducted through dentin, which depends on enamel to insulate the dental crown. Below the gum line, the outermost layer of the tooth is much thinner and comprised of a sticky substance called cementum. When the enamel is eroded or gum tissue has receded from around cementum, heat may easily leave the pulp anytime the tooth comes into contact with something cold.
Thin enamel can be identified by yellow-brown colored dentin showing through it. Erosion is usually caused by exposure to acid. Oral bacteria secrete acid as a by-product of their metabolism, and people who smoke or eat a large amount of acidic food or red meat are vulnerable to developing acid reflux. Regular brushing is essential to preventing the spread of oral bacteria. Enamel may be remineralized through fluoride therapy or fluoride-enriched toothpaste. We can also provide patients with sealants, protecting the teeth that are most affected by acid reflux and tooth decay.
Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Family Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.
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