Our dental tip of the week is related to tooth sensitivity. If you suffer from sensitive teeth due to gum recession, then place a pea sized amount of sensitive toothpaste such as Colgate Pro Relief or Sensodyne on to your finger tip and rub this into the sensitive areas. It is important not to wash or brush away the paste so ensure that this is the last thing you do at night after your usual oral health care regime. If the sensitivity does not ease after a few days, please visit your dentist as soon as possible.

You may have noticed the increasing number of adverts for the treatment of tooth sensitivity and tooth erosion. Why is this? The answer is simple; our diets and habits.
 

DIET

In general, our diet has become far more acidic over the years. For example, you may be surprised to learn that certain fruits have a very high acid content that can dissolve healthy tooth enamel. Citrus fruits are especially acidic. Fizzy drinks are also very acidic. Did you know that a typical cola drink could dissolve your entire tooth overnight? Shocking, yet these drinks are a normal dietary item. Not only this, but the non diet varieties contain up to 4 large tablespoons of sugar!
 

HABITS

Did you know that over 80% of the population grinds their teeth at night? Teeth grinding will lead to loss of tooth enamel and cause tooth sensitivity. In conjunction with an acidic diet, this is a recipe for disaster! It is not unusual to see tooth wear that would normally be seen in an elderly person in a twenty or thirty year old. If you have tooth wear or sensitive teeth, then please read on.
 

WHAT TO DO

1. Reduce the acid content in your diet immediately. 
2. Chew sugar free gum after eating or drinking acidic foods and drinks. 
3. Do NOT brush your teeth immediately after eating acidic foods or drinks.
4. Use dedicated pastes and gels as prescribed by your dentist to reduce tooth sensitivity and protect teeth.
5. These pastes and gels should be used TOPICALLY. This means applying them directly to the teeth with your finger tip and allowing direct contact overnight.
6. Do NOT rinse with water or mouthwash after applying the topical paste. This will simply wash the paste away.
7. See your dentist immediately if you develop sensitive teeth or notice your teeth chipping, becoming more translucent at the tips or becoming flat.
 

PREVENTION

Prevention is far better than cure. By spotting the signs early, advanced tooth wear or sensitivity can be prevented. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are concerned with any of the issues mentioned.

If you suffer from tooth sensitivity, a simple solution is to rub sensitive toothpaste all around the area with your fingertip after brushing and flossing your teeth. Please remember not to rinse with water afterwards and allow the sensitive toothpaste to remain in place for the entire night. After 10-14 days, the sensitivity may well have disappeared. If the sensitivity remains or gets worse, then there may be an underlying problem that your dentist will be able to detect. It is important to see your dentist as soon as possible to ensure that any underlying problem is diagnosed early. 

We recommend very specific pastes for tooth sensitivity, please call us and we will advise you personally. 

Our telephone number is 020 7731 1162 and our email is info@progressivedentistry.co.uk