If you've just had a root canal or filling, you may be experiencing extra sensitivity to temperatures or pressure on your tooth.  Here are some suggestions to help avoid such unpleasantness.

1.    Avoid very hot liquids.  If your tooth has become sensitive to temperatures, it only makes sense to try to limit those extreme temperatures.  This is not to say that all of your drinks should be lukewarm.  Just be careful.
2.    Avoid very cold liquids.  If your tooth throbs when eating ice cream, perhaps you should avoid it for a while. 
3.    Be careful what you eat.  If your tooth is much more sensitive than before, be careful what kinds of food you eat.  For example, taffy on a freshly filled tooth is probably not the smartest idea.
4.    Take an anti-inflammatory.  Taking ibuprofen or Tylenol may be able to alleviate some of you discomfort.  As always, consult your dentist before beginning your own pain management.
5.    If you've just had a white composite filling and have been experiencing sensitivity for several weeks, you may want to visit your dentist.  Sometimes sensitivity is caused by an imperfect seal between the filling and the tooth.  If so, your dentist will be able to fix it. 

One of the least pleasant aspects of good oral health is getting a filling or a root canal done.  True, they are necessary.  Usually having a filling or root canal does make you feel better overall.  But when you have first had it done, you are often uncomfortable and grumpy.  It's more difficult to brush your teeth, chew and maybe even speak.  One thing that can be helped, however, is tooth sensitivity.  By reading this article you will learn 5 ways to avoid tooth sensitivity after getting a filling or a root canal.

First of all, let's talk about what actually happens when you get a filling or a root canal.

A filling is a way to restore a tooth that has been damaged by decay (also known as a cavity) back to its normal function and shape.  When you need to get a filling, the dentist first removes the decayed tooth material, cleans the infected area and then fills the newly cleaned out cavity with a filling material.  This prevents bacteria from entering the tooth cavity and also prevents further decay. 

There are two main types of filling material: silver amalgam or white composite.  Silver amalgam fillings are silver in color, very strong and can withstand heavy biting pressure.  They are relatively inexpensive and covered by most insurance companies.  They contain metals, including mercury, and can leave your teeth rather sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.  White composite fillings are white, strong, and are made of acrylic and glass particles (no mercury).  They look natural in one's mouth, and are less stress on your teeth as the dentist does not need to remove as much healthy tooth with composite fillings compared to amalgam fillings. 

Root canals are the long passages full of soft tissue and dentin of the tooth.  When you get a "root canal" you're getting something similar to a filling, but more serious.  Sometimes the roots of the tooth become cracked or infected and so the dentist must do a root canal.  In order to save the tooth, a dentist removes the inner-most aspects of a tooth, specifically the "pulp tissue," or nerves.  Once that is done, s/he fills the now empty cavity with a filling material and then seals up the openings.  Sometimes a crown (or a covering) must be placed over the tooth, if enough of the tooth has been damaged.  No matter what extent of work is done, you want to be sure to take measures to avoid tooth sensitivity afterward.

If you've ever taken a sip of a cold drink or bite of something hot and felt a sharp pain through your teeth and gums, you may be one of the many people in the world who have sensitive teeth.

What causes sensitive teeth?
Sensitive teeth are a common condition that often comes and goes. Sensitivity in the teeth is sometimes caused by unfilled cavities or fractured teeth. If you experience tooth sensitivity even after these problems have been corrected, there are a number of other causes. Worn out tooth enamel or an exposed tooth root may cause sensitivity.

In the case of an exposed root, the dentist may recommend a root canal, which will most likely alleviate the sensitivity.

More often than not, however, sensitive teeth come from the gradual wearing down of enamel, which is why it's more common in older people than younger. Enamel acts as a protective covering of the teeth's dentin, which contains small hollow canals. When the enamel is worn down, these canals allow heat and cold to pass through to the nerves in the tooth, resulting in tooth sensitivity.

Preventing tooth sensitivity
If you have sensitive teeth, there are a number of things you can do to reduce the sensitivity. Proper oral hygiene can help prevent sensitivity in the first place by keeping gums and teeth clean.

There are a number of different types of tooth desensitizers. For more serious cases or if tooth sensitivity causes severe discomfort, you may need to go to your dentist to get a stronger prescription. But for mild discomfort, over the counter tooth desensitizers have a number of advantages for people with sensitive teeth.

Mild cases of tooth sensitivity would be described as discomfort from hot, cold, or sweet foods. In this case, a toothpaste designed specifically for sensitive teeth can help to reduce the amount of sensitivity by decreasing the sensitivity of the dentin, where the root of the pain stems. In order for these toothpastes to be effective, they must be used in place of your regular toothpaste, so at least twice daily. Most patients say it takes about 2 weeks to notice results and a lowered sensitivity.

In addition to desensitizing teeth, over the counter tooth desensitizers have a number of other advantages. Many of these toothpastes and treatments include ingredients like fluoride and tartar control, so they prevent cavities and plaque build-up as well. In addition, there are also desensitizing whitening toothpastes, so you can whiten teeth while building them up at the same time.
Tooth desensitizers are not just for people who experience pain from sensitive teeth. Many people opt to use a tooth desensitizer a few weeks before undergoing whitening treatment, as the process can cause increased sensitivity once it's completed.

If you have a mild case of sensitivity in your teeth, as most people do from time to time as they get older, over the counter tooth desensitizers are an effective way to take the pain out of hot and cold beverages and food. For more painful or serious cases, you should probably visit a dentist and discuss other options with him or her.

Flossing regularly is an important part of overall health for the teeth and gums. Neglecting to floss your teeth can lead to a number of serious dental and gum problems. One of these is cavities. Brushing does not clean in between your teeth. When the plaque and food and sugar in between your teeth are not removed by flossing, they start to eat away at the enamel in your teeth, eventually causing cavities in between the teeth.

Dentists and other experts recommend you floss at least once a day. But for people who have sensitive gums, flossing can be an unpleasant experience. However, not flossing can result in gum diseases, or periodontal diseases, which occurs when people don't brush or floss enough. Some common symptoms of this include sore or bleeding gums, hardened gums, and eventual tooth decay.

If you have sensitive gums, the following tips will help you to floss without pain:
1.    Start to use a desensitizing product, such as toothpaste. There are a number of toothpastes designed specifically for sensitive teeth that can help reduce the amount of sensitivity by decreasing the sensitivity of the dentin, where the root of the pain stems. In order for these toothpastes to be effective, they must be used in place of your regular toothpaste, so at least twice daily. Most patients say it takes about 2 weeks to notice results and a lowered sensitivity.
2.    Practice proper flossing techniques. pull the floss taut and pinch it between your thumbs and index fingers. These fingers will be your guides as you floss. Keep the floss in the center taut, and then slowly and gently work floss between your teeth and down to the gum line. Once you are finished flossing, brush your teeth.
3.    Floss gently! Avoid snapping the floss into your gums. This can cause damage and bleeding to your gums. In addition, do not pull floss back and forth against the gums. This can be painful if your gums are sensitive.
4.    Consider alternatives. For people who find it much too painful to floss, there are flossing alternatives. Water picks are one option and use powerful tiny bursts of water to blast away food particles and other debris in certain areas of your mouth. Dentists use these water picks when preparing a tooth for restoration, or in general cleaning and exams.
5.    Try a rinse. Antibacterial rinses, found either over the counter or by a prescription by your dentist, can also be effective means of getting rid of plaque between the teeth if flossing is too painful.

The best way to deal with sensitive gums is through prevention. If you have sensitive gums that make flossing painful, see your dentist to make sure there are no underlying problems or gum disease. If these go untreated, they can lead to more serious problems. Also, be sure to brush and floss regularly to keep gums and teeth in good condition. Many times, mild sensitivity can be alleviated by using an over the counter desensitizing agent, such as a toothpaste or rinse.