Msmiline - Laser Therapy - Tooth Sensitivity
What is Tooth Sensitivity?
What is Tooth Sensitivity?
Tooth sensitivity is a common name for dentin
hypersensitivity or root sensitivity. If hot, cold, sweet
or very acidic foods and drinks, or breathing in cold
air, makes your teeth or a tooth sensitive or painful
then you have sensitive teeth.
Is Tooth Sensitivity Common?
Tooth sensitivity is very common and it has been
estimated that approximately half the population
experiences tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity can come
and go over time.
Why does Tooth Sensitivity (Dentin
Hypersensitivity) Happen?
Tooth sensitivity is usually caused by dentin on root
areas exposed due to receded gums or periodontal disease.
Receded gums are very common and up to four fifths of
people have gum recession by the time they are
65.
When the root of a tooth becomes exposed it does not have a layer of enamel like the crowns of your teeth. Instead the roots have a very soft covering called cementum, which once lost leaves the dentin of the root exposed. Overzealous brushing or using a very abrasive toothpaste can also cause abrasion of the tooth’s enamel surface and expose dentin. A very acidic diet – for example a diet with a lot of citrus food, pickles or soft drinks — can cause tooth erosion and dissolve the tooth surface, exposing the dentin. Bulimia and GERD can also result in dental erosion and sensitivity due to acid in the mouth.
It is important to tell your dentist or hygienist if you have any sensitive teeth, so that he or she can examine your mouth, see if the problem is tooth sensitivity (dentin hypersensitivity) and help you choose the best treatment. When teeth are sensitive it can be painful to brush them and if you brush poorly because of pain then there is more risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Pain after hot, cold, sweet or acidic food and drinks can also be a sign of decay with a cavity or hole in the tooth, or a sign of a broken tooth, and if this is the case your dentist will treat you with a filling or other treatment.
What Makes Exposed Dentin
Painful?
Dentin contains thousands of tiny channels that are only
visible with a microscope. These channels run from the
surface, through the dentin to the nerve centre of the
tooth — the pulp. The channels contain fluid and
after eating or drinking hot or cold foods, the fluid in
these tiny channels moves and irritates the nerves in the
tooth, causing pain.
Can I Prevent Tooth
Sensitivity?
You can reduce your chances of getting tooth sensitivity
by keeping your mouth as healthy as possible with good
oral hygiene to help prevent receding gums and
periodontal disease. Brushing and flossing properly as
recommended by your dentist or hygienist and using a low
abrasion toothpaste can help reduce the chance that you
will have tooth sensitivity. A diet that is not acidic
also helps prevent tooth sensitivity. Ignoring your
sensitive teeth can lead to other oral health problems,
especially if the pain causes you to brush poorly making
you vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease.
What Can I Do if I Have Sensitive
Teeth?
First tell your dentist or hygienist. He or she can help
you and see what the best treatment is. It is also
important to tell your dentist or hygienist in case the
cause is not dentin (root) hypersensitivity and the tooth
is sensitive due to a more serious problem.
To treat tooth sensitivity, your dentist or hygienist may recommend that you use a low abrasion toothpaste specially made for sensitive teeth — a desensitizing toothpaste. These toothpastes make the teeth less sensitive if you brush with them twice a day and also contain fluoride to help protect your teeth against decay. Alternatively, your dentist may prescribe a brush-on fluoride gel or a fluoride rinse, or a high fluoride level toothpaste that is specially formulated to make your teeth less sensitive and provides extra protection against decay. These treatments happen at home when you are brushing your teeth and are inexpensive. Other treatments for sensitive teeth that your dentist or hygienist can provide in the dental office are also available. These include treatments that are painted onto the teeth — such as fluoride varnishes and plastic resins, fillings if a lot of tooth area has been lost, and lasers.
You should ask your dentist or hygienist about the best way to treat your sensitivity.
More information can be found at www.colgate.ca
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