During winter and colder temperatures, children may be more prone to issues with and complain more about sensitive teeth. Children can have this problem much the same as an adult. While the bitter colds winds that come and go with Michigan winters can be enough to cause a “zing” to the teeth, often the effect of temperature change is the main cause. That is, going from one extreme (hot food) to another (cold wind) can make it markedly more likely to experience tooth sensitivity. Here are the causes and solutions for sensitive teeth in children.
The causes of sensitive teeth
The most common cause of sensitive teeth– or toothache, really– is tooth decay and/or gum disease from poor dental hygiene. Proper brushing with a soft tooth brush, and in-office fluoride treatments and sealants can prevent tooth decay. Dental caries should be removed and filled.
Speaking of fillings, silver amalgam fillings have a high thermal conductivity. If your child happens to have this type of filling and tooth sensitivity is becoming an issue, talk to your dentist about the sensitivity so we can determine if there is another cause. If a sensitivity problem appears to be localized to a particular tooth with a silver filling, we may decide to remove and replace it.
It’s also the season of colds. Inflamed and stuffy feeling sinuses can cause a referred “sinus tooth pain.” In this circumstance, all of the upper teeth may become sensitive and even some of the lower teeth because they share major nerve branches from the brain. Symptoms of sinusitis may include fever, a stuffy or runny nose, bad breath, and pain that gets worse when you sit up or lie down. Consult your medical doctor for relief from sinusitis.
Misaligned teeth can be particularly sensitive especially if there are awkward contact points between upper and lower teeth that result in a “high” spot. This is common in crowding situations and in crossbites where one jaw is abnormally narrow relative to the opposing jaw. Our orthodontists follow the recommendation of the American Association of Orthodontists that all children should be screened for developing orthodontic problems starting at the age of 7 years old. While most children will not need any intervention at this time, catching problematic development at this time can prevent a lot of problems down the road.
Children with bruxism (teeth grinding) might have cracks in their baby or permanent teeth that cause pain and sensitivity. While wear and tear on the baby teeth isn’t as critical a concern as adult teeth, early diagnosis and management of this habit is important to prevent escalation of the problem to a point where teeth may become sensitive, fracture, or become loose. “For cracked milk teeth, we can evaluate whether to extract or save the tooth to avoid misalignment,” says Dr. Elizabeth. “Usually, if the new tooth would erupt in 6 months or less, extraction is okay. We also want to figure out how to protect the teeth if we see wear on the teeth and we will often refer to our orthodontists to help with prevention and protection.”
Avoid consistent exposure to juice boxes, pop and sports drinks. The acidity in sugary and citrusy drinks can erode tooth enamel over time and this leads to sensitivity.
If you have any questions about sensitive teeth please do not hesitate to ask us at your next appointment.
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly and newly renovated office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. Our pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults and are proud to be Premier Providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen services. The ability to treat all patients with compassion and individuality, including those that may have special needs reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy and customized care options. We pioneered valued hospital affiliations to allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital, when appropriate or necessary, and our specialists are also proud to be on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
