Home Remedies for Teeth Sensitivity to Deal with the Pain

Teeth sensitivity is something many of us suffer from. Since our teeth are super-sensitive, almost anything may cause sensitivity like not brushing teeth well, brushing teeth for too long or too many times, acidic and sour food, sweet food, teeth grinding, tooth decay, cavity, recent dental work, etc. Thus, preventing teeth sensitivity is difficult. However, there are few home remedies which can help you to deal with the dental condition.

How to Treat Sensitive Teeth at Home

Tooth sensitivity is that sharp pain which you experience when you take something very cold like ice-creams or hot like tea, coffee or something sour like tamarind or lemon. However, this condition is curable and listed below are few such home remedies for sensitivity in teeth.

1. Oil Pulling

You can try this with either coconut oil or sesame oil. This remedy helps in flushing out the Streptococcus mutans bacteria from your mouth which helps in curing teeth sensitivity. Both the oils have anti-bacterial properties and thus reduce as well as prevent plaque build-up. This remedy improves overall oral health and prevents dental problems.

How to Use It 

• Take a tablespoon of sesame or coconut oil (extra virgin, if possible) in your mouth.
• Swirl the oil around in your mouth for a good 15-20 minutes.
• Then spit it out and rinse your mouth well with warm water.
• Then brush your teeth with toothpaste (preferably ones which are meant for sensitive teeth).

Make this your morning ritual before brushing your teeth every day.

2. Salt Water Rinse

Salt has anti-bacterial properties and therefore rinsing your mouth with salt mixed in lukewarm water kills the bacteria which causes sensitive teeth and also heals a toothache or sore gums which may have been caused by new dental work.

How to Use It 

• Rinse your mouth with lukewarm salty water.
• Swirl it around your mouth, and if in case of severe pain, you can just hold it in your mouth for some time.
• Spit it out and continue the same with the rest of the water in the cup.
• Then, after you have finished, rinse your mouth well with plain water twice.

Do this rinse twice daily until you get the desired result.

3. Clove with Olive Oil

Cloves have anti-inflammatory as well as anti-bacterial properties. It also works as an analgesic and therefore good for toothaches and sensitive teeth.

How to Use It 

• Make a paste of ground cloves and olive oil or sesame oil.
• Apply this paste on the affected teeth/tooth for an hour or so.
• Then rinse it off with water.
• In case you have clove oil, just take a little of the oil in cotton and place it on top of the tooth or you can also rinse your mouth with lukewarm water mixed with 5-6 drops of clove oil.

You may use either of the remedies twice daily until the sensitivity gets cured.

4. Guava Leaves

Guava leaves contain flavonoids, has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties which gives relief in teeth sensitivity and toothache.

How to Use It 

• Try chewing on some tender guava leaves and then spit them out.
• You may even boil few guava leaves in some water and rinse your mouth with it after it cools down.

Try either of the guava leaf remedies twice or thrice a day to get good results.

5. Garlic

Being anti-bacterial and a natural anaesthetic, Garlic reduces tooth sensitivity, toothache and any kind of infection.

How to Use It 

• Crush one garlic clove and mix it with a few drops of water and salt.
• Apply it and leave it for some time.
• Lastly, rinse your mouth with salty lukewarm water.
• You may also rub half a garlic on the affected tooth/teeth for a good 10-15 minutes.
• Once done, rinse your mouth with lukewarm water.

Follow either of the garlic remedies 2-3 times a day until the sensitivity or pain ceases to exist.

6. Oregano Oil

This oil has anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Thus it helps in reducing pain or sensitivity in the teeth due to the cavity or other dental problems.

How to Use It 

• Dab some oregano oil onto a cotton ball and apply it on the affected tooth. Keep it for 10-15 minutes and then rinse it off with lukewarm water.
• You may even mix few drops of the oil in a cup of lukewarm water. Swirl the solution in your mouth and spit it out.

Repeat either of the remedies 2-3 times daily.

7. Hydrogen Peroxide

The anti-bacterial properties in hydrogen peroxide help in killing germs which cause cavities and other oral problems. It is also an excellent teeth whitener.

How to Use It 

• Mix 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide and water in equal amount.
• Use this solution to wash your mouth.

Do not do this for more than 2 -3 times a week and do not swallow the solution; spit it out completely.

8. Salt and Pepper Paste

Both these ingredients are analgesic, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. Therefore, apply the mix of both these ingredients helps in reducing teeth sensitivity.

How to Use It 

• Make a paste of the salt and pepper using a few drops of water.
• Then apply it on the sensitive teeth.
• After about 15-20 minutes, rinse off your mouth with lukewarm water.

Repeat this remedy every day until the sensitivity in your teeth ceases to exist.

How Can You Prevent Teeth Sensitivity?

Teeth sensitivity can be quite painful and can affect your daily life. Therefore preventing it is best. Here are a few tips by which you can stop your teeth from getting sensitive.

• Toothpaste which is for sensitive teeth contains potassium nitrate. This helps to block the tubules in the dentine which have been exposed due to the wearing off of the teeth enamel. However, regular and continuous use will only help.

• Brushing your teeth the right way can help you to prevent sensitive teeth. Brush your teeth with soft bristles and brush gently for two minutes. However, brushing for too long may wear away the tooth enamel and cause sensitive tooth.

• Consult your dentist for pain barriers that are done to prevent sensitivity in your teeth. Getting a fluoride varnish or plastic resins can help cure teeth sensitivity for some time until it does not wear out after a few months or a year.

• Put a mouth guard at night or change the way you sleep if you grind your teeth at night. If you have a habit of grinding the teeth when tense or angry, be alert and conscious to stop yourself from doing so.

• Try to prevent your mouth from getting dry especially when you are down with a cold and breathing through your mouth since you have blocked nostrils. Having a dry mouth causes oral infections resulting in dental problems. Drink a lot of water and avoid too much intake of coffee and tea to overcome this problem.

• Rinse your mouth thoroughly with plain water after eating or drinking something. You may also use home-made mouth wash to rinse your mouth twice a day to aid oral hygiene.

• Make lifestyle changes like avoiding acidic food and caffeinated beverages which may cause tooth decay and other dental problems.

• If you suffer from acid reflux, consult a doctor and get it treated at the earliest since acidity erodes the enamel from your teeth and causes sensitivity.

What Foods Should You Stop Eating If You Have Food Sensitivity?

Foods which are sour, hot and cold are the primary causes behind sensitive teeth. However, avoiding the foods listed below will help you in preventing teeth sensitivity.

• Fizzy, black and carbonated drinks
• Ice-creams
• Hot caffeinated beverages like tea and coffee
• Hard candies like lollipops and lozenges
• Citrus fruits like pineapple, lemons, oranges, grapefruits
• Acidic food
• Alcohol
• Tobacco products

FAQs

Below, we answer some frequently asked questions for people whose teeth are sensitive to cold and hot beverages, sour and acidic food.

1. When to Talk to a Dentist about Teeth Sensitivity?

You should consult a dentist if you have too much sensitivity in your teeth or you experience sensitivity in any particular tooth or gum area.

2. Does Flossing Help Sensitive Teeth?

Flossing when done gently can help in removing plaque. This plaque if not removed properly can cause the teeth to rot and decay resulting in sensitive teeth. Floss once a day to remove plaque to aid oral health and prevent sensitivity.

3. Does Brushing Too Hard Cause Teeth Sensitivity?

Brushing your teeth too hard or for too long may cause the tooth enamel to erode. This exposes the dentine which connects the tooth’s nerve endings. When this is exposed and comes in contact with something cold or too hot, it causes pain.

Although sensitive teeth are a common dental problem and not a serious health hazard, it causes temporary uneasiness and pain. Therefore, try avoiding the condition by brushing and flossing your teeth gently twice a day and visit the dentist at least once a year.

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