Have your teeth begun to feel a bit sensitive when you drink or eat hot or cold foods? Maybe you experience sensitivity mainly when you bite down. Though sometimes sensitivity is a sign of a more serious underlying dental problem, such as an abscessed tooth, you can usually blame it on your dental hygiene routine. Here's a look at four changes you can make to your dental hygiene routine in order to calm your sensitive teeth.

Use a softer toothbrush.

You might assume that a harder bristled brush is better at removing plaque, but actually, you should be using a pretty soft brush on your teeth. Too hard a brush can wear away at your enamel, exposing the underlying dentin tubules which react with that shooting "ouch" feeling when you eat something hot or cold.  An ADA-approved toothbrush labeled "soft" or "medium-soft" should keep your teeth clean without this problem.

Switch to a sensitivity toothpaste.

A toothpaste made especially for sensitive teeth includes special ingredients intended just to seal your dentin tubules back up. Look for one which is also high in fluoride, as the fluoride will help rebuild and harden your enamel if it has been damaged by vigorous brushing or hard bristles.

Start rinsing your mouth out after eating.

The acid found in many common foods and beverages, including citrus fruits, soft drinks, pasta sauce, and coffee wear away at your tooth enamel rather quickly, which may make sensitivity much worse. It might be hard to avoid foods like these entirely, but at least get into the habit of rinsing your mouth out after you eat anything you suspect might be acidic, so the acid is not sitting on your teeth for so long. In fact, rinse your mouth out after any time you eat anything – letting any food product that contains carbohydrates sit on your teeth is not wise, since oral bacteria will feed on it and then produce acid.

Get friendly with your dental floss.

Gingivitis can contribute to tooth sensitivity. As your gums start to recede, the lower portions of your teeth become exposed, and the dentin tubules in this portion of the tooth are much closer to the surface and more likely to cause sensitivity. The best way to keep your gums in good shape (in addition to brushing) is with regular, thorough flossing. Set an alarm on your phone to remind you to floss every day. Experiment with different types of floss until you find one that works well for you, so you're less likely to skip it.

For more information, contact Howley & Basara Family Dentistry PC or a similar location.