Do you get short sharp pain every time you have hot or cold food or beverages, such as
coffee or ice cream? Does tooth brushing or flossing make you wince occasionally?
If you answered YES to these 2 questions, you may be suffering from a common problem called
Dentine hypersensitivity
~ also known as tooth sensitivity.
Tooth Sensitivity is one of the most common dental problems in our society.
Even though varying data exists regarding the occurrence of dentine hypersensitivity globally, clinical findings demonstrate that 1 in 5 people suffer from this dental condition. There are many factors why patients suffer from this. Some of the common causes of tooth sensitivity include tooth decay, worn out tooth enamel, cracked tooth, exposed root surface of the tooth due to gum disease or aggressive tooth brushing techniques leading to gum recession. Proper diagnosis of dentine hypersensitivity is the first step in addressing this common dental issue.
What are the simple solutions to treat dentine hypersensitivity?
1. Get your teeth checked! As mentioned earlier, proper diagnosis of this dental condition is the first step.
2. Your dentist may recommend a specially formulated toothpaste (e.g. Sensodyne) for use twice daily. Its active ingredients have dual action: primarily to provide a nerve calming effect, as well as initiate tooth protection through surface re-mineralization.
3. Dentist-supervised in-office dental products (e.g. high concentrated fluoride gel, varnish, mousse or desensitizers) can be applied by a dental health care professional.
4. If the conservative approach does not work, your dentist may recommend other treatment options depending on the cause of tooth sensitivity.
If you are suffering from this condition and have concerns about its possible cause/s and treatment options, you are more than welcome to call our clinic here at Erina to book a consultation with any of our dentists.
Til next time!
Dr. Rouel Vergara DMD