Pain, stinging, discomfort? Dentin hypersensitivity is one of the most common complaints reported to a dentist. We suggest what oral hygiene should look like with teeth that require special care …
Hypersensitive, which is what?
Tooth hypersensitivity is a colloquial term for dentin hypersensitivity, which is a common phenomenon. According to epidemiological studies, between 8 and 30 percent are struggling with it. adult population. It usually appears in the third decade of life, especially in people with periodontal disease or the presence of non-carious tooth hard tissue lesions. Hypersensitivity usually affects the canines, followed by the premolars and incisors.
What exactly is dentin? It is a mineralized tooth tissue with a tubular structure. In the area of the tooth crown, it is covered with enamel, and in the area of the root with root cement. The literature reports that the development of hypersensitivity occurs in two stages. First, the dentin is exposed, then the external orifices of the dentinal tubules are opened, while their patency in the intraligamentary direction is maintained. This exposure of the dentinal tubules is the immediate cause of hypersensitivity, which manifests itself in a short and sharp pain that is significantly different from that of pulpitis or other serious oral diseases.
Warning signals
Pain, stinging and discomfort are the most common symptoms that people with tooth sensitivity complain about. Short-term pain, which is different for each of us due to our individual pain threshold, can be triggered by thermal, chemical, osmotic or mechanical stimuli. The feeling of discomfort most often appears when:
- we eat cold drinks or food
- we eat hot drinks or food
- we eat acidic drinks or foods
- we eat sweet drinks or food
- we brush and thread our teeth
- we inhale the cold air through our mouths.
Due to repeated pain sensations, dentin hypersensitivity is a condition that significantly reduces the quality of life. Many hypersensitive people instinctively avoid certain foods or reduce the time needed to brush their teeth, which only exacerbates the causes of the problem.
How to deal with tooth sensitivity?
The first step in eliminating hypersensitivity is to find the cause of the loss of enamel or cement (the tissue that covers the root of the tooth) and prevent further loss. It can be caused by, among other things, poor oral hygiene leading to plaque build-up, excessive consumption of acidic drinks (dissolving tooth tissue), gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, frequent vomiting, tooth whitening or grinding of teeth at night (bruxism).
The next step is “gentle protection” – sensitive teeth require special care. The harder you brush, the more you rub off the enamel and reveal sensitive dentin. Therefore, the choice of toothbrush and toothpaste cannot be accidental. Some brushes are designed for sensitive teeth. Their extremely soft bristles clean the teeth without damaging the enamel or gums, as exemplified by the ELGYDIUM Clinic 15/100 toothbrush. It is equipped with extremely soft bristles made of Tynex © with rounded tips. Its comfortable, long handle allows full control during cleaning, which minimizes the risk of unwanted irritation of the gums.
It is equally important to use a toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth. ELGYDIUM Sensitive in the form of a gel has a delicate texture, devoid of abrasive properties, thanks to which it perfectly cares for sensitive teeth without increasing pain. Regularly used, it helps to reduce dentine hypersensitivity and protect against external factors such as heat, cold or sour drinks, which is confirmed by clinical trials. All thanks to the composition of the paste, in which we find the 2nd generation amine fluoride (Fluorinol®) supporting remineralization, strengthening and protection of the tooth enamel. ELGYDIUM Sensitive is recommended to be used 3 to 2 times a day for 3-XNUMX minutes.
The fluoridating effect of toothpaste can be enhanced by using ELGYDIUM Enamel Protection with fluoride mouthwash, which will help us take care of places that are difficult to reach by a toothbrush, i.e. interdental spaces, tooth necks, teeth under an orthodontic appliance.
People suffering from tooth sensitivity should also remember to drink cold drinks through a straw and not brush their teeth immediately after consuming citrus or fruit juices. Wait 2 hours, or rinse mouth with water first.
If the change in skin care habits does not work, a visit to the dentist’s office is necessary. Strong, persistent pain may indicate lowering gums or badly damaged enamel. The choice of the method of treating tooth sensitivity depends on the severity of the problem. A popular method proposed by dentists is teeth varnishing with a special fluoride preparation that creates a protective layer. The effect of the treatment lasts about 6 months. Another way to protect the dentine is to use a composite in the areas of enamel loss or to reconstruct the gingiva to cover it (both in the form of a graft and replacement of the existing gums with a substitute).
PFM/201/2021
Elgydium products are available in stationary and online pharmacies as well as in selected dental offices.