Does drinking ice-cold soda or hot coffee make you wince? Are your newly brightened teeth giving you more pain than pleasure? According to the Academy of General Dentistry, 45 million Americans suffer from tooth sensitivity.

Tooth sensitivity can occur when gums recede. Gum recession can allow cold, hot, sweet or acidic foods and beverages and even whitening, to stimulate the nerve endings. This stimulation can result in a sharp pain or continuous dull ache.

Many sufferers go to extreme lengths to live with tooth sensitivity. Some have even been known to microwave cold salads. Others simply go without the things that they enjoy eating and drinking in order to avoid tooth pain.

However, in some cases, tooth sensitivity can be treated easily and at home, without altering eating habits. A great place to learn more about sensitive teeth is the Web site www.StopToothSensitivity.com.

“Many patients don’t want to talk to their dentists about their sensitive teeth because they’re afraid they’re doing something wrong and that the treatment to correct the problem will be painful,” says Sheri Doniger, DDS, editor of “Woman Dentist Journal” and a practicing dentist in Lincolnwood, Ill. for 20 years. “Treating sensitivity can be relatively simple, and the easiest way to get started is by using a soft-bristled toothbrush and sensitive toothpaste or a new tooth desensitizer.” However, there are times when tooth sensitivity can be caused by something more serious which should be reviewed and treated by a dentist.

Using sensitive toothpastes may be a good option, especially since there are many kinds and flavors to choose from. However, the drawback to their effectiveness is vigilant daily use, and with many brands, it can take two to four weeks before the patient gets relief from pain. Tooth desensitizers, a new advancement in over-the-counter oral care products, are easier to use because they can relieve pain immediately and only require one application for months of relief.

“I’ve started recommending a new product that relieves sensitivity pain for up to six months with just one application, which is a huge breakthrough and convenience for patients,” says Doniger. “Protect Tooth Desensitizer is a simple at-home, brush-on liquid that can provide immediate relief. This new product lets my patients return to eating and drinking normally.”

Having sensitive teeth may be an inconvenient problem, but with today’s oral care technologies, it does not need to be a painful one.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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