Sensitive toothpaste

14th March 2017

Sensitive toothpaste

Which sensitive toothpaste is the best?

Why do I get sensitivity?

If you sometimes get a sharp pain in your mouth when you drink or eat something hot or cold, you’re not alone: A survey finds that one in eight people has over-sensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth were most common in young adults, women and people who had receding gums or did at-home tooth whitening.

Is the condition impacting your lifestyle and are you avoiding some foods? Does the pain come and go? Sensitive teeth often occurs when enamel on the outside of the tooth, or the tissue between the tooth and gum called cementum, wears away, exposing small tubes that connect nerves inside the tooth to triggers outside of the tooth.

Sometimes acidic diets and drinks lots of wine or alcohol can lead to wear of the enamel thereby causing sensitivity. Additionally receding gums and performing at home tooth whitening can expose the tubes in the inside of the tooth like loss of enamel can.

To prevent gum recession and loss of enamel it is best to avoid brushing straight after meals like breakfast. This is because as you have eaten a meal the sugars from the meal are broken down to acid by the natural bacteria in your mouth. The acid then softens your teeth and using a tooth brush directly after a meal causes abrasion of the tooth surface.

If I have already got receding gum, loss of enamel and sensitivity what can I use to prevent the sensitivity?

Well do not despair, there are two types of toothpastes available on the market.

The first type being potassium desensitizing toothpastes. These types of toothpastes fall under the potassium based desensitizing toothpastes e.g sensodyne and second type being calcium based desensitizing toothpastes like Colgate sensitive pro-relief.

Potassium Nitrate Toothpastes

Pros:

Can work in spite of acid erosion and abrasive events during the day, which open pores on exposed dentin causing tooth sensitivity.

Cons:

Can take up to 2-4 weeks for maximal effect, so stick with it.

Calcium Based Desensitizing Toothpastes

Pros:

Relief is more instantaneous.

Emulates the body’s natural processes.

Can be rubbed on with your finger to sensitive teeth.

Cons:

Acid erosion and abrasive events during the day can reopen pores.

With either toothpaste it is advised not to rinse after instead spitting thoroughly after brushing. This allows a thin coating of toothpaste remaining on your teeth to get to work providing the relief it is designed give you. You should try both and see which one works best for yourself.