Are you annoyed with that sharp, stinging pain you experience in your tooth, every time you eat something hot or cold?
Tooth sensitivity is now a common dental problem in India, that results in a sharp, intense but a temporary pain or discomfort in your teeth when you eat something cold, hot, sweet, or acidic. Tooth sensitivity can affect anyone at any age, usually peaking between 30 and 40 years.
Tooth sensitivity begins to develop when the softer, inner part of your tooth called dentine is exposed to external factors (stimuli). Dentine lies under the enamel (the hard, thin outer covering of your tooth) and the gums.
When there is wear and tear of the enamel, the dentin becomes exposed and external triggers (such as ice cream, hot foods, sweet desserts, or sour foods) can stimulate the nerves inside the roots of the tooth, resulting in short, sharp spikes of tooth sensitivity.
Various things can cause tooth sensitivity. The most common ones being tooth erosion, tooth decay, gum recession, and significant grinding of your teeth. The good news is that sensitive teeth can be treated with certain dental procedures and by following preventive measures in your daily oral care routine.
Treating Tooth Sensitivity
At The Dentist
Complex dental problems can cause extreme teeth sensitivity. In such cases, it is advisable to meet your dentist and get the underlying problem fixed. Depending on the severity of your dental problem, the solutions offered could include:
Dental Crown: A tooth-shaped "cap" placed over your tooth to cover the tooth to restore its shape, size and strength. Tooth sensitivity after dental crown placement is usually normal and nothing to worry about.
Inlay: A pre-molded filling fitted into the pit of your tooth, often used to treat dental cavities or dental caries (decayed areas of your teeth that cause openings or holes in your teeth). While your tooth can continue to be sensitive for a few days after getting an inlay, it should subside over a period of time.
Dental Bonding: A cosmetic procedure in which a composite resin material (same as the colour of your teeth) is applied to your teeth to improve your smile. Bonding is known to seal your nerve endings, protecting your teeth from too hot or cold temperatures/foods, resulting in reduced sensitivity.
Besides the above procedures, following preventive measures suggested by your dentist can help you reduce or avoid teeth sensitivity.
4 Measures For Sensitive Teeth
1. Keep a check on your brushing technique. If you are brushing too much, or too hard or using too much pressure and in the wrong direction (horizontal brushing), your gums are most likely to recede, and receding gums expose sensitive areas of the tooth.
It is important to follow the right technique of brushing to avoid damaging your teeth. The following steps will you understand the right method of brushing:
Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.
Gently move the brush back and forth in short, circular strokes.
Brush all the inner and outer surfaces of your teeth, including the chewing surfaces.
To clean the inside surfaces deeper, tilt the brush vertically and move the brush in a back and forth motion.
Brushing your teeth twice a day is important to keep away dental caries and other forms of tooth decay.
2. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush. If you are using a hard-bristled toothbrush, change your toothbrush to a soft or ultra soft-bristled brush recommended for sensitive teeth.
3. Switch to a toothpaste for sensitive teeth. There are different types of toothpaste available and each type serves a different purpose. If you suffer from tooth sensitivity, it is advisable to pick a desensitizing toothpaste with the right active ingredients that will have a soothing effect on your sensitive teeth.
The active ingredients in a desensitizing toothpaste block the pain signals that travel between the surface of the tooth and the nerve endings. Two such active ingredients to look for in toothpaste for sensitive teeth are:
Potassium Nitrate: Potassium nitrate, also known as a "nerve-calming” ingredient, prevents nerve endings in your teeth from sending signals to your brain activated by sensations of hot and cold.
Stannous Fluoride: This ingredient reacts with your tooth enamel and produces a layer over the vulnerable areas of your teeth, with the aim of repairing sensitive teeth. This protective layer prevents short sharp sensations caused by sensitivity.
Check with your dentist as to the best-suited toothpaste for your sensitive tooth and the number of times you should brush with it.
4. Limit of avoid acidic food and beverages. Acidic foods/drinks can erode enamel causing sensitive teeth. Sports/energy drinks, fruit juices, and sour candies may also contribute to added acidity in your mouth.
You should try and balance acidic and alkaline foods to help neutralize the acidity of other foods and help keep your teeth in better health. Add fruits, vegetables, soybeans, nuts, seeds, and legumes to your diet that are alkaline-promoting foods.
While the above measures can help prevent tooth sensitivity, it is important for you to schedule regular visits with your dentists to identify tooth decay or damage in the early stages.
References:
1. Ada.org. 2021. [online] Available at: <https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Publications/Files/FTDP_Sept2013_2.pdf?la=en> [Accessed 15 March 2021].
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