By Dr NIKITA THANKI BDS
Associate Dentist – Ilford
Sensitive teeth can be frustrating. Let’s take a look at some of the causes of sensitive teeth and some ways your can help make it better.
The outer protective layer of your tooth is called the enamel and beneath this layer is the dentine. Effectively, if the dentine of your tooth is exposed to the outside elements, you can get tooth sensitivity.
Recession and gum disease – when the bone and gum around the tooth of your tooth shrink away this can cause sensitivity.
Overbrushing – this can cause gum recession in itself, but also abrasion (wearing away) of the enamel (the outer protective layer of the tooth) and therefore exposed dentine – causing sensitivity.
Erosion – acidic foods and drinks that dissolve the enamel of the tooth, leaving exposed dentine and therefore sensitivity.
Grinding your teeth – this causes wearing away of the enamel via attrition —-> exposed dentine —-> sensitivity (you get the picture!).
Tooth decay – this can cause sensitivity firstly because it makes your tooth weaker and can cause a hole which would expose the dentine, but also, if the decay is deeper, it can begin to irritate the nerve of your tooth which is in the centre of it – and so can cause sensitivity (and potentially eventually pain, in this way)
So what can you do to prevent sensitivity in the first place?
1. Brushing your teeth, clean in between your teeth and keep a low sugar diet – preventing tooth decay and gum disease
2. Don’t overbrush – clean better, not harder!
3. Low acid intake – less fizzy drinks and fruit juices (drink them through a straw if you are having them), rinse your mouth after having fruits etc.
4. Wear a mouth guard at night if your grind your teeth – a dentist can make this for you and it protects your teeth from wearing each other away!
“I’ve got sensitivity, now what?”
Apart from doing all the above you can consider the following:
1. Spit don’t rinse! Don’t rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth to keep the protective fluoride in and strengthening your teeth so it is more resistant to insult.
2. Use a sensitivity toothpaste for brushing – this can block the sensitive sensation from outside of your tooth inwards.
3. Use a sensitivity toothpaste ‘topically’ – just apply it as a gel even when you’re not brushing your teeth
4. Anything acidic through a straw!.
5. Avoid very cold and icy foods/drinks that can exacerbate your sensitivity