When teeth hurt, the sooner we reach the root of the problem, the sooner the pain disappears.
What triggers tooth pain?
Heat, cold, touch, air, sweet or sour foods. If you recently had a cavity filled, that area may be sensitive for awhile. Other causes of sensitivity are:
- Erosion of tooth enamel.
- Gum shrinkage down below the crown exposing the cementum beneath, an area sensitive to heat and cold.
- One or more teeth shifting into a position where they strike too hard against other teeth. This can happen to anyone, but it’s most frequent when a lost tooth is not replaced.
- Clenching or grinding of teeth, whether awake or asleep.
Try This At Home
Desensitizing toothpaste (look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance); avoid whitening or tartar control tooth-pastes. Use a soft toothbrush with short back-and-forth strokes and a gentle up-and-down motion. Brush thoroughly. Floss daily.
Get Professional Help
If pain persists, come see us. We can pinpoint the cause and offer solutions. Coating the area with a fluoride gel or desensitizing agent may be all that’s needed. If it’s a cracked tooth, worn filling or decay, we can fix that, too. Don’t delay. Call now.
Dr. Angela Burns moved to Austin 10 years ago and instantly fell in love with our beautiful city. Dr. Burns is originally from the Texarkana area. She attended Texas A&M for her undergraduate degree and The University of Tennessee Health Science Center for her degree in dental surgery (DDS). Dr. Burns is committed to providing her patients with gentle, technologically advanced dental treatment. She attends an average of 60 hours of continuing education every year. She is a member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Texas Dental Association, and the Capital Area Dental Society. Dr. Burns and her husband, Gary, have an 11-year-old daughter, Sydney, who is a proud 6th grader at Hill Country Middle School. She is also very involved in the Eanes PTO, her church, and loves raising her family in the Westlake community. “Growing up, I was drawn to mediating and helping others feel more included and less anxious. I was a camp counselor, student government officer and being the oldest of five, I was the family mediator. I found that I had a calling to help alleviate stressful situations for others and realized that being a good listener was something that was key to this. These skills really helped guide me into becoming a dentist that has based my practice on relationships, empathy and a sense of comfort. I knew that I wanted to provide an atmosphere that felt like home when others walked in. Our practice is small, personal and state of the art and we hope you feel like you’re hanging out with friends when you are here!” When she is not practicing dentistry, Dr. Burns enjoys traveling, hiking the greenbelt, enjoying Austin’s music scene, and eating Amy’s Ice Cream.
