Ouch! If you often get sensitive teeth after drinking a cold glass of water or eating some chocolate, you're not alone and we can help.
WHAT IS TOOTH SENSITIVITY?
Tooth sensitivity can make a delicious meal, drink, or even something as simple as brushing your teeth an uncomfortable experience.
Sensitivity occurs when the protective layer of enamel on our teeth is worn away, exposing the dentine underneath. The dentin has microscopic tubules leading to the nerve. When the dentin is exposed, the nerves are more easily provoked which causes tooth sensitivity.
WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF TOOTH SENSITIVITY?
Tooth sensitivity is described to feel like a short, sharp pain. The pain is felt when the tooth is exposed to a stimulus. Once the stimulus is removed, the pain settles.WHAT CAN TRIGGER TOOTH SENSITIVITY?
Tooth sensitivity can be triggered by cold food or drinks, cool air, a gentle touch e.g. from a toothbrush, hot food or drinks.
WHAT CAUSES TOOTH SENSITIVITY?
Worn down enamel is a common cause of tooth sensitivity. Enamel erosion occurs with regular consumption of acidic foods and drinks.
Other common causes include, brushing too vigorously, using a toothbrush with hard bristles, teeth grinding, clenching, or gum disease (causing the gums to shrink away from the teeth exposing the tooth roots).
Temporary sensitivity can also be felt following a professional dental clean, teeth whitening or other treatments – this should only last up to a few hours.
HOW CAN TOOTH SENSITIVITY BE PREVENTED?
Regularly brush and floss, ensuring to clean along the gum line and between your teeth.Use a soft bristled toothbrush.
Brush with a sensitive tooth paste and use Tooth Mousse.
Avoid regular consumption of acidic foods and drinks.
SHOP OUR TOOTH SENSITIVITY PRODUCTS
NeutraFluor 5000 Toothpaste can help to reduce the pain of sensitive teeth and also provides long term protection with regular use.GC Tooth Mousse restores the enamel with calcium and phosphate, blocking the little tubules in the dentine to help reduce tooth sensitivity and protect our teeth from acidic food and drinks.
Recaldent Chewing Gum works in a similar way to tooth mousse by helping to replace the lost minerals in the teeth and rebuild the integrity of the enamel in the teeth.
MI Varnish is placed on your teeth after a clean at DNTL Code to protect against decay by placing a coating of fluoride, calcium and phosphate which improves the enamel's strength against acid and helps to prevent demineralisation (the first stage of decay!).
