Dental hypersensitivity: why do I have “creepy” feelings in my teeth?
This painful, sharp and brief sensation appears when you abuse acidic foods and drinks, an aggressive brushing technique or the accumulation of bacterial plaque. Ice creams, ice creams, soft drinks, juices… There is no summer without them.
But so many acidic and sugary drinks and so many changes in temperature can cause “chilling in our teeth.”
This is dental hypersensitivity, an acute and brief pain that cannot be attributed to any other disease or dental defect and that affects, according to the Spanish Society of Periodontics and Osseointegration (SEPA), one in four adults, especially those between 25 and 45 years old.
Dental hypersensitivity appears when our dentin (the tissue under the enamel) is exposed to thermal (cold or hot foods and drinks), tactile (brushing), osmotic (acidic foods, sugars, etc.) or chemical or evaporative (water or air) stimuli.
And this happens through an aggressive brushing technique, the use of brushes with hard filaments and abrasive toothpastes, the abuse of acidic foods and drinks (energy drinks, soft drinks, vinegar, wine, citrus juice, etc.) and the accumulation of bacterial plaque.
The more exposed our dentin is, the more likely we are to suffer from hypersensitivity.
And if left untreated, hypersensitivity can make a gesture as necessary, routine and, why not?, pleasurable as eating or drinking become a daily nightmare, decreasing our quality of life.
But not only that.
If left untreated, by making daily oral hygiene difficult, it can lead to the appearance of more serious problems such as periodontal disease or cavities in the necks of the teeth.
Tips to combat dental hypersensitivity To treat hypersensitivity, at Clínica Cervera we advise:
##NUM##1.
For oral hygiene:
##BULLET##Use a brush with soft, rounded bristles.
##BULLET##Use a small amount of toothpaste (about the size of a pea).
Brush your teeth three times a day and do not rinse with water after brushing so that the toothpaste can take effect.
##BULLET##Avoid traumatic brushing techniques.
Do not apply pressure or rub the brush aggressively.
##NUM##2.
In nutrition:
##BULLET##Reduce the consumption of acidic foods and drinks.
##BULLET##Make the passage of acidic drinks through the mouth as short as possible.
Don’t sip or savor them for longer than necessary.
You can even help yourself with a straw.
##BULLET##Finish your meals with an alkaline or neutral food, like a bread crumb or a little cheese, and rinse your mouth with water.
##NUM##3.
Follow the personalized advice of your dentist, who can recommend specific oral hygiene products for dental hypersensitivity or apply treatments to reduce it.
There are people with a higher risk of suffering from dental hypersensitivity, such as those with gingival recession and those who have periodontal problems or abnormal exposure of the necks of the teeth, or those who suffer from bulimia.
If you find yourself in any of these cases, take extreme precautions.