Tooth sensitivity after filling is a prevalent issue most people face, especially if they have metal fillings. The most uncomfortable symptom that can appear during the filling process or afterward is an electrical feeling in the teeth. That feeling, which is called dental galvanis, can rouse discomfort or even pain that feels like a shock in your mouth. So you’re not alone if you’ve tried to do the same but instead felt nerve pain or mistook a shocking sensation in your fillings. Luckily, short-term and long-term solutions help control and relieve this feeling. In this article, we’ll explore how to stop shock in mouth between fillings, explain the relevant causes and treatments for mouth shocks, and provide valuable tips to ease the pain.
Understanding Dental Shock Sensations
If you’ve ever felt a jolt of electricity or almost like a shock in your teeth even after a filling, you might have experienced dental galvanism. This phenomenon can be scary but knowing what makes it happen can help you cope better. We’ll break down what’s causing the pain and explain how different fillings can lead to nerve pain.
What Causes Electric Shock Feelings In Teeth?
This electric shock sensation usually increases when there is a difference in electrical potential current between metal fillings and the cementum of the tooth structure. This is called dental galvanism and occurs when different metals used in fillings or any substances in the mouth touch each other. The difference in electrical charge could create a current running through the dental work, causing a brief electric shock-like sensation in the teeth.
This sensation is not always permanent but can be annoying and cause discomfort. It’s more familiar with older metal fillings because they can corrode over time and react with the tooth and other metals. Hot or cold food and drinks can also worsen that shock-like sensation.
How Different Metals In Fillings Cause Reactions
Every metal used in dental fillings (think silver amalgam, gold, or stainless steel) has unique electrical properties. If two or more types of metal fillings are used in different sections of the mouth, they can produce a tiny electrical current because the conductivity of the metals differs. This current travels through the fillings and the tooth structure, creating a shock sensation.
For instance, if one tooth has a metal filling and a nearby tooth has a crown made with a different type of metal, the diverse types of metal can induce dental galvanism. It can also result from significant wear and tear or corrosion surrounding older metal fillings, which can escalate sensitivity. This phenomenon might be avoided by opting for non-metal fillings.
Ways To Reduce Sensitivity And Shock
To manage shock in the mouth on fillings, you must first address the symptoms of shock: nerve irritation, which can be due to metal fillings reaction. Here are effective ways to decrease sensitivity and ease that shock-like feeling.
Desensitizing Toothpaste And Mouthwashes
They can be instrumental in fighting sensitivity and nerve pain due to fillings. These types of toothpaste are designed to help prevent pain by blocking pain signals from the nerve and include ingredients such as potassium nitrate or strontium chloride. For long-term relief from those sharp, shocking sensations, use desensitizing toothpaste.
Best Products For Reducing Nerve Pain
Find a toothpaste for sensitive teeth, such as Sensodyne or Colgate Sensitive. These products include ingredients that cover the nerve endings in the teeth, dulling sensitivity and helping to block pain. Moreover, desensitizing mouthwashes can support the toothpaste, ensuring a comprehensive approach to alleviating pain.
How Fluoride Helps Strengthen Enamel
Another mineral that is important to seal your teeth is fluoride. This process strengthens your tooth enamel and prevents your tooth from being sensitive and damaged. Dentists often recommend fluoride treatments to help remineralize weakened enamel, reduce nerve pain in fillings, and protect against tooth decay. Your dentist can also apply fluoride mouthwashes or gel treatments to help create a barrier that reduces tooth sensitivity and makes the fillings less reactive to hot or cold stimuli.
Home Remedies For Soothing Tooth Shock
Professional desensitizing toothpaste effectively reduces these sensations, but there are numerous home remedies for instant dental shock relief.
Saltwater Rinses And Herbal Pastes
By rinsing your mouth with saltwater, you can relieve the gums and reduce inflammation surrounding the filling. Saltwater has natural healing abilities, which can clear the area and soothe sensitivity—gargling a half teaspoon of salt mixed with warm water around your mouth for 30 seconds.
Along with saltwater, herbal pastes from ingredients such as turmeric, chamomile, or ginger can offer added comfort. These herbs have anti-inflammatory properties and promote healing, helping reduce nerve irritation from dental visits.
Using Clove Oil For Temporary Relief
Clove oil has been used for a while for its natural analgesic (pain-relieving) properties. Swab a little clove oil over the affected area to relieve the electric current feeling in your mouth. Clove oil possesses eugenol, a compound that helps numb the pain and ease inflammation. But it should be used in moderation: too much can harm the gums.
Long-Term Solutions For Dental Shock
If dental shock continues and becomes particularly painful after short-term fixes have alleviated the immediate discomfort, you might consider longer-term approaches. These methods address fundamental problems, including what filling material might be used and how well current fillings are holding up.
Replacing Old Metal Fillings
If you have metal fillings that give you ongoing sensitivity or shock-like experiences, changing out the metal with a non-metal filling is likely your best long-term option. Composite fillings (made of resin or porcelain) are less likely to cause an electrical sensation in teeth as they are not as electrically conductive as metal fillings. Composite fillings are often preferred because they are more aesthetically appealing and can be made to match the color of the natural teeth.
One of the most important benefits of replacing old metal fillings is that it alleviates sensitivity and prevents further reactions to dental galvanism. However, metal fillings may not be as comfortable as the alternatives, so if you’re feeling discomfort, ask your dentist if you can switch to composite for comfort and function.
Consulting A Dentist For Composite Filling Options
If you are worried, you can always ask your dentist if you need to replace your fillings. They can assess your current fillings and recommend the best treatments for relieving sensitivity and shock. Due to biocompatibility, composite fillings are the best option for those with high sensitivity to metals and for avoiding dental galvanism.
Your dentist can also look for signs of other problems with your fillings, such as wear, leaks, or gaps, which can sometimes cause nerve pain. For that reason, regular dental checkups ensure that any problems with your fillings are fixed before they become a source of further discomfort.
Call Us Now!
At Dental Faith, we realize nerve pain and electric sensations in the mouth make it almost impossible for people to continue with their daily physical exercises. But there is no need to worry; our experienced professionals can provide the right solutions to ease tooth sensitivity and make you comfortable during and after a procedure. Whether you’re experiencing electrical sensations in your filling or you want to know more about alternatives to metal fillings, we’re here to help you every step of the way.
For more information, please call Dental Faith today if you suffer from sensitive teeth or pain in your fillings. At Dental Faith, our dental professionals will guide you in finding the most effective treatment options that will eliminate dental shock and lead you to better oral health. Don’t let tooth sensitivity interfere with your life. Make an appointment today for relief!
FAQs
Why do I feel electric shocks in my mouth?
Dental galvanism is the sensation of electrical shocks in the mouth when different metals used in dental fillings come into contact with each other and produce an electrical current. It’s when metals or materials in your mouth interact with each other leading to nerve irritation and a shock-like sensation.
How can I reduce sensitivity between fillings?
Use desensitizing toothpaste and mouthwashes that block nerve pain to minimize sensitivity between fillings. Avoiding extreme temperatures and opting for non-metal fillings, such as composites, may also reduce discomfort and sensitivity.
What treatments help with dental galvanism?
To treat dental galvanism, practitioners replace metal fillings with composite material to prevent electrical interactions. Fluoride treatments, desensitizing products, and home remedies such as saltwater rinses or clove oil can also help alleviate symptoms of dental galvanism.