5 Ways to Soothe Sensitive Teeth

1. Ease up.

Sensitive teeth need extra care. The harder you brush, the more you wear away enamel and expose sensitive dentin. Even if your teeth start feeling better, it’s important to keep brushing them gently with soft bristles.

2. Unclench and de-stress.

Wondering why your teeth are so stressed? If you wake up with a sore jaw, the answer could be that you’re grinding your teeth to bits. Start wearing a mouth guard to protect you from punishing your teeth even more.

3. Give them a vacation from whitening.

Everyone loves white teeth, but your teeth don’t always love having stains removed. If you whiten too often, you can thin your enamel, exposing your dentin, causing pain. Take a break until your sensitivity is gone for good.

4. Look for toothpaste with a little TLC.

Break up with your favorite mint-flavored paste and look for something with a softer side, like a paste with potassium nitrate or strontium chloride. They help clog dental tubules, keeping pain stimuli from reaching your nerves. Pro tip: these toothpastes take at least two weeks to work.

5. Don’t be a hero.

Does your pain last more than a minute? If so, stop waiting, and head to a dentist. Your dentist can create a coating for your teeth out of fluoride or bond a porcelain veneer to your teeth.