Relatively speaking, of course, there's nothing quite as bad as tooth sensitivity, especially the kind that follows a filling or root canal. Tooth sensitivity not only means sensitivity in general, owing to the work that's recently been preformed in your mouth; tooth sensitivity refers specifically to the way a tooth reacts to heat and cold. Your tooth, after all, has this great, snake-like nerve slithering down through it, and nerves, as everyone knows, can cause horrible agony when exposed to the elements. Some people are born with greater tooth sensitivity than others. These days there are special toothpastes you can use to alleviate this inborn sort of problem. But what about the sensitivity that assaults your teeth right after you leave the dentist's office? What can you do about that? You might as well not live with pain a single second longer than you have to. Keeping this profound truth in mind, let's consider five ways in which a person can avoid sensitivity after a filling or root canal.
1.    First, when it comes to tooth sensitivity, keep in mind that it's not completely avoidable. In other words, you're probably going to have to live with some sensitivity following a filling or root canal no matter what you do. The reason you want to keep this in mind is that you'll probably be more effective with what you can control if you do. You're not attempting, really, to completely and totally abolish tooth sensitivity following a filling or root canal, as that'd be impossible-your tooth has just been brutalized, after all, and it's going to feel brutalized for a little while at least afterward. What you're attempting to do with tooth sensitivity is take the edge off-make it more bearable-make it so that you can work, eat, and function at more or less full capacity.
2.    I mentioned a special sort of toothpaste a little earlier-you can find it at your local pharmacy or grocery store. There are a more than a few different kinds, most of them with a title that cleverly makes use of the word "sensitive." So, right before your filling or root canal, or right afterward, go out and get yourself some of this toothpaste. That's a very basic step to take, as any dentist will tell you, should you bother to ask him.
3.    Staying with the "stuff" theme, there's some other stuff you can get besides toothpaste, a little stronger, a little more potent, a little quicker working. It's basically a numbing agent that you rub on the afflicted tooth and the surrounding gum area as well. And what it does is-numbs the tooth and the surrounding gum area as well. Ask your local pharmacist about it, he'll point you in the right direction.
4.    To avoid tooth sensitivity following a filling or a root canal, avoid really cold and really hot foods. Don't eat ice cream, maybe, until the day after, or at least until you notice a big difference in the way your tooth feels. Don't eat hot soup maybe right afterwards. In other words, there's no better method of avoiding tooth sensitivity than avoiding the substances that cause tooth sensitivity in the first place, or, if it's there already, that make it worse.
5.    You'll want to confer with your dentist or doctor when it comes to any medication, but basic aspirin has been known to help with tooth sensitivity following a filling or root canal. Ask your dentist about possible combinations of over-the-counter pain medications in your quest to avoid tooth sensitivity.
Again, you're never going to be able to escape tooth sensitivity altogether, assuming you've had significant work done on said tooth; to insist otherwise would be like insisting that your arm shouldn't feel any soreness at all once its been set for a broken bone. But by following a few simple steps you should be able to at least noticeably reduce the sensitivity in your teeth.  

What are the advantages of over the counter tooth desensitizers? Dental hypersensitivity is a condition that affects much of the population. What ever the cause of the sensitivity, there are over the counter tooth desensitizers that can help. However in some cases it is important to get into the dentist as soon as possible to help prevent further damage to your mouth and gums.

The advantages of over the counter tooth desensitizers are all in the name. If your teeth are sensitive to cold, wind, food, drinks, or any thing else that you do in life that causes aggravating pains, you know that having your teeth more desensitized is important. The over the counter tooth desensitizers remove or at least minimize that irritating pain. Over time, there can be a full result of no pain from the desensitizers and help from your dentist.

The tooth desensitizers that are purchased over the counter are usually much less expensive that what you would have from the dentist.

Another advantage is that you will be able to enjoy activities and food or drinks that you could not before.

Brushing your teeth is easier with a tooth-desensitizing product; therefore a major advantage is your overall improved oral health.

Many of the desensitizing products come with other benefits such as tartar control, fluoride for cavity prevention, and much more.

Desensitizing care products can be used as a full dental program for ongoing care of your teeth and gums.

Usually your tooth or gums become sensitive due to one of the following issues:

Root or nerve damage
Periodontal disease
Dentin exposure
Tooth grinding
Dental treatment
Tooth Whitening
Dental hygiene cleanings
Orthodontics
Tooth restoration
Brushing teeth or gums to hard
Enamel loss
Gum recession
Natural wear and tear
Broken or fractured teeth

The pain from these issues may happen every once in awhile or may be more continuous. Whichever the case, dealing with the pain is the main result we are looking for. The over the counter tooth desensitizers will give temporary relief to the pain from these issues. Here is a list of a few treatments you can try.

There are over the counter potassium nitrate desensitizing dentifrices, and over the counter stannous fluoride gels and dentifrices. You can use Orajel Advanced tooth desensitizer, Orajel pain relieving toothpaste, Sensodyne, Arm & Hammer Advanced for sensitive teeth or any other tooth paste, or mouth rinse that carry these desensitizing treatments in them.

If however these products are not working to lessen and remove the pain of the sore tooth, then your dentist has options to help with the pain. They are usually in office treatments.

With roughly 45 million Americans facing these problems and pain, the Academy for General Dentistry along with the ADA and other dental professionals have worked on creating and ensuring better methods to deal with these types of pains and problems.

Knowing the demographics that cause hypersensitivity helps these professionals find better over the counter treatments. With the increasing numbers of cases with hypersensitivity dental problems, it is more important than ever for ways to resolve this pain to become available with over the counter desensitizers.

Once you have set up a plan for dealing with your sensitive mouth, teeth, and gums. You will be able to start enjoying life again. That is probably the most important advantage of over the counter desensitizing products. If you have ever had a mouth pain that stops you from enjoying some of the most wonderful parts of life, you know that relief from that pain would be worth the treatment.