Hewlett Family Dental Blog

Do your teeth feel sensitive when you sip a hot coffee or when you have a bite of ice cream? If so, you could be suffering from tooth sensitivity. But what does that mean and is tooth sensitivity a sign of something worse? What Is Tooth Sensitivity? First, let’s discuss what tooth sensitivity is. Tooth sensitivity is a painful sensation that occurs when you consume certain foods or drinks (like those that are very hot or very cold) because your tooth’s dentin or cementum is exposed. Dentin is the layer underneath your tooth’s enamel, the hard shell that covers and protects your teeth, and cementum is the material that protects the roots of your teeth. Dentin is made up of tiny fluid-filled canals that are connected to nerve endings from the inner pulp, which is a soft bundle of nerves and blood vessels at the center of your tooth. When your enamel is worn away or weakened, or if your gums recede, these sensitive layers become irritated. What Sensitivity Means for Your Oral Hea...

Is Your Favorite Soda Affecting Tooth Enamel Loss? Soda can sound so delicious, but you may want to think twice about guzzling it, no matter how enticing it may seem. Did you know that soda and other high acid drinks can permanently damage your teeth and can be even more devastating on the dental health of your kids? It’s true. It’s not just your favorite fizzy drink that can do your teeth in, but also fruit juice and sports beverages. If the drink is high in acid, your teeth are at risk. From the first sip, within less than a minute, permanent damage can be done to your enamel. The risks are even higher for kids because many adolescents grind their teeth at night and may also have undiagnosed acid reflux which can compound the damage done. Brushing Doesn’t Restore Enamel Damage Sodas If high acidity drinks are consumed, it is not simply a matter of having a child clean their teeth an hour or 30 minutes later and hoping they’ll be okay. But the damage is already done. ...