许多人经历了一定程度的牙齿敏感性。一项在2013年3月号发表的研究The Journal of the American Dental Association（贾达）透露，有八分之一的人有1人敏感的牙齿。但是许多人没有与牙医讨论这种情况。
If you have sensitive teeth, you may think that the discomfort you feel when you eat or drink cold, hot, sweet, spicy, or sour foods or beverages is normal, and that the solution is simply toavoid trigger foodsand drinks.
根据牙齿敏感性的原因，避免这些触发因素可能有助于减轻您的症状。但是，牙齿敏感性也可能是严重潜在问题的迹象，这就是为什么与任何其他问题讨论任何牙齿敏感性以及其他任何问题的重要性 -your dentist。
何时安排牙科访问
Your teeth are meant to last a lifetime. “And they will — if you take care of them,” says Kimberly Harms, DDS, a spokesperson for the American Dental Association (ADA), based in Minneapolis. But teeth are subject to damage over time. Enamel can wear down, making teeth more sensitive. Gums can recede, exposing the root and nerves and therefore increasing sensitivity. Teeth can develop cracks, cavities, and abscesses. And you might experience other dental problems.
Aside from your regular checkups, it’s important to see your dentist immediately if you suddenly experience an unusual level of牙齿灵敏度，或者如果一个特定的牙齿或区域变得特别敏感。Harms博士说：“不要等待下一个预定的约会。”
If you have a cracked tooth, for example, bacteria can grow in the tooth and lead to an infection, she explains. The crack could also get worse. “It’s really important to take care of any dental issues as quickly as possible,” Harms says. “The longer you wait, the worse a problem can get.”
通用牙科学院的专家还建议您在几天以上高度敏感的情况下对牙齿进行高度敏感，并且对炎热和寒冷的温度有强烈反应。
您访问期间会发生什么
排除任何基础牙齿敏感性的原因，就像破裂的牙齿，腔，脓肿或神经损伤一样，您的牙医可能会问以下问题：
- 您的牙齿多久感到敏感？
- Do all of your teeth experience sensitivity, or is it just a single tooth?
- 灵敏度持续了多长时间 - 它会持续一段时间或立即消失？
- 敏感性是否仅在真正的冷食物（例如冰淇淋或热食物）等真正的冷食物中发生？
- 当您食用酸性食物或饮料时会发生吗？
- Do you have pain when you bite into something or chew?
Depending on your answers to these questions, your dentist may recommend changing your regular toothpaste to one that’s specially formulated for sensitive teeth; fluoride treatments to help strengthen your teeth and manage your symptoms; a mouth guard to protect your teeth from the effects of grinding or clenching; or a crown, inlay, or bonding. A surgical procedure, like a root canal or gum surgery, is sometimes necessary.
与牙医谈论症状可以帮助您找到敏感牙齿的最佳治疗方法。
