Such tooth sensitivity is mostly seen in people within the age range of 20 and 40, however it also affects the elderly. About 40 million people in the US are apparently affected by this condition. The most irking part about sensitive teeth is that it makes eating and drinking cold, sour, and hot foods very difficult.
Although there is no instant remedy available, have a look at some measures that will help alleviate the condition.
Vertical Brushing
Horizontal brushing of the teeth is not recommended. Irrespective of whether we have sensitive teeth or not, we should only brush in the vertical direction. Hold the brush in your mouth and brush with ‘up and down’ movements. You could also try the circular brushing motion. Just hold your brush at a 45 degree angle and gently brush your teeth in a circular fashion. Moreover, always use your fingertips to hold the brush and not your palm. Horizontal brushing only wears out the teeth enamel and conduces to expose the tooth dentin, thereby, leading to sensitive teeth.
Soft Brushing
Vigorous brushing conduces to wearing out of the outer enamel and results in exposure of inner dentin, due to application of extra pressure on the teeth. It is important to remember that brushing is to be done steadily and slowly, without being aggressive and harsh on the teeth. Moreover, do not forget to use an extra sensitive toothbrush and discard your toothbrush when its bristles begin pointing in different directions.
Fluoride Rinse
People with sensitive teeth need to rinse their mouths once a day with a fluoride rinse. People with highly sensitive teeth may need a stronger fluoride rinse than the regular ones available in the local pharmacy. Situations wherein people have gum diseases or dental bone loss, and are undergoing root planing treatment, the teeth can end up being left even more sensitive. In such cases, the dentist will apply a strong fluoride gel to counter the problem.
Proper Teeth Cleaning
Sensitive teeth are prone to irritation caused by plaque. Plaque, the sticky substance adhering to the surface of the teeth produces an acid that irritates the teeth, thus, making it even more sensitive. To avoid this situation, it is important to clean off the plaque on a daily basis. This may seem quite boring, but, if you want to decrease the sensitivity, then brush twice a day and floss once a day.
Toothpaste
Desensitized toothpaste is recommended for sensitive teeth. It comprises two main ingredients: potassium nitrate and strontium chloride. Potassium nitrate will desensitize the nerve roots, such that the pain stimuli does not get transmitted from the pulp to the teeth root. Strontium on the other hand fills up tiny pores in the dentin layer, thereby preventing the pain stimuli from reaching the tooth root. Thus, together these two help reduce teeth sensitivity to a large extent.
Sensitive teeth need to be dealt with as soon as possible, as longer the delay, greater will be the sensitivity. If you look at each remedy mentioned above, you will find that these are just small corrections we need to make to our brushing habits. Hope this article was helpful and informative!
