Ever felt that sharp and piercing pain when biting into extremely cold or hot or sour? That weird feeling that makes eating and drinking a painful experience? Then it is evident that you might be having sensitive teeth. Most of us experience some degree of tooth sensitivity. According to the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), 1 in 8 people have sensitive teeth. So teeth sensitivity, which is quite a load of discomfort, is a sign that you should start paying more attention to your oral health. With this in mind, one may ask, what home remedies for sensitive teeth currently exist that we can immediately deploy?
Fortunately, tooth sensitivity is easily treatable. In fact, certain home remedies can help you reduce tooth sensitivity easily. So let us examine a few effective home remedies for sensitive teeth.
Read more: Herbal remedies for high blood pressure
What causes tooth sensitivity?
Your tooth is covered by enamel, a protective layer that covers dentin and dental pulp. The dental pulp is the inner part of your tooth that contains many blood vessels and nerve endings. Tooth sensitivity happens when your tooth’s enamel is corroded or stripped away, leaving the thin layer of dentin, blood vessels, and nerve endings exposed. When you drink or eat something cold, hot, or sour, those nerve endings react to it and this is why you feel that sharp pain in your teeth.
There are various causes why enamel wears down leaving your nerve ending exposed to pain.
- Erosion due to highly acidic food and beverages
- Tooth grinding
- Aggressive brushing
- Teeth whitening treatments
- Gum recession.
- Tooth decay
- Broken tooth
- Dental procedures
- Bacterial infection
With the right home remedy for sensitive teeth, your teeth will be restored to a healthy and normal condition.
Read more: Natural remedies to bring down high blood sugar
Effective home remedies for sensitive teeth
1. Coconut Oil pulling for teeth sensitivity
Oil pulling is one of the easiest home remedies for sensitive teeth. This is because it helps in flushing out the bacteria and other substances from your mouth that helps in curing teeth sensitivity. Also, coconut oil has antibacterial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the pain felt by the tooth.
What do you need:
- Virgin coconut oil
How to do it?
- Pour a teaspoon of virgin coconut oil in your mouth.
- Then swish and swirl it in your mouth for about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Spit it out and rinse your mouth with warm water and brush your teeth afterward.
- Then proceed to do this daily in the morning.
2. Onion chew for teeth sensitivity
Onions have anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties that can fight harmful bacteria responsible for tooth sensitivity. It can also provide relief from tooth pain.
What do you need?
- Small onions
How to do it?
- Peel the onion and chew it in the affected area for a few minutes.
- You can also place it on the affected area and leave it for a few minutes.
- Take the onion out and wash your mouth with warm water.
- Then repeat this procedure twice a week.
3. Guava leaf wash for home remedies for teeth sensitivity
The guava leaf wash is one of the popular home remedies for teeth sensitivity. This is because guava leaves are enriched with antioxidants and flavonoids that keep the enamel healthy. It also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that provide relief from tooth sensitivity and toothache.
What do you need?
- Guava leaves
How to do it?
- Take 5 fresh guava leaves and wash them thoroughly.
- Then boil these guava leaves in water for about 5 minutes.
- Let it cool a bit and rinse your mouth with it.
- Then try this thrice a week to get good results.
4. Saltwater rinse for teeth sensitivity
You might have heard about this home remedy for teeth sensitivity. This is obvious since salt-water is one of the oldest and effective treatments for teeth sensitivity. Salt has antibacterial properties that kill the bacteria responsible for teeth sensitivity. Salt-water also provides relief from toothache and sore gums.
What do you need?
- One teaspoon of salt.
How to do it?
- Dilute 1 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water.
- Then swish and swirl it in your mouth for about 5 to 10 minutes
- Try to hold it in the affected area for some time.
- Then spit it out and rinse your mouth with normal water.
- Repeat this twice a week.
5. Clove ointment for home remedies for teeth sensitivity
Cloves are one of the few herbs that provide complete protection to your oral health. The anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties not only provide relief from teeth sensitivity but also whitens your teeth naturally and gives you refreshing breath.
What do you need?
- Cloves
- Olive oil
How to do it?
- Make a fine paste of a few cloves and olive oil.
- Then apply this paste in the affected area.
- Let it rest for about 1 hour.
- Then rinse it off with lukewarm water.
- Repeat this daily for better results.
Although sensitive teeth are not a serious health hazard, you certainly don’t want to experience uneasy pain whenever you eat your favourite food or beverages. So, try to avoid this condition by trying these home remedies for sensitive teeth.
Read more: Home remedies for skin whitening